May 25, 2000 SportsLine.com wire reports

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NBA was too lenient in disciplining the Miami Heat for remarks after New York beat them in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference playoff series, Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said Thursday.

Heat players Tim Hardaway

	Related Links: Criticizing officials to cost Mashburn, Hardaway, owner Speak out: Have your say in the Knicks Team Club!
	T O P   N E W S

and Jamal Mashburn and team owner Micky Arison were fined Wednesday. Arison was fined $25,000, Hardaway $20,000 and Mashburn $10,000.

"There has not been one time that I have been at an NBA game where I didn't think the officials called the game to the best of their ability, and with no other agenda," said Van Gundy, whose team defeated Miami 83-82 Sunday to reach the conference finals for the second consecutive year.

"They had three officials in their pocket," Mashburn said after the game. "I don't care if I get fined or not."

Veterans Dick Bavetta, Dan Crawford and Bennett Salvatore officiated the game.

Hardaway questioned the objectivity of Bavetta in his post-game remarks.

"I see why they call Dick Bavetta 'Knick' Bavetta -- because he called seven straight calls down on their end," in their favor, Hardaway said.

"I feel for those guys," Van Gundy said. "I think the next time they have one of our games, or a Miami game ... the league in one small way left them out there hanging."

The Heat declined to comment Thursday on Van Gundy's remarks.

The fines came about 10 days after the league suspended Indiana's Reggie Miller for one game and Philadelphia's Matt Geiger two games for an altercation during their Eastern Conference second-round series. The 76ers also were fined $50,000 for allowing "reckless" play by Geiger, who was ejected from Game 4 following his second flagrant foul against Miller, and was fined $20,000. Miller was fined $5,000 for retaliating with a slap to the Philadelphia center's face.

"Miller love-tapping Geiger gets a game," Van Gundy said. "Two players basically questioning the ultimate integrity of the game get a very small fine. I don't understand it.

"It doesn't matter to me, but if I was one of those officials I would be very disappointed in the type of support they've been given."

Van Gundy pointed out that the officials working in the playoffs were among the league's best.

"They're not only good at their job, but they take great pride in their objectivity," he said. "I may not always like what they call, but I've never felt they weren't being objective. ... I was surprised by the league's response."