Phil vents about officiating

DALLAS -- Coach Phil Jackson said today he's been unhappy during the playoffs because the referees haven't called either the New Orleans Hornets or the Dallas Mavericks for kneeing the Lakers' big men out of the low post, especially Pau Gasol. Here's more:

"I've resisted this the whole playoffs, but the NBA used to call the knee up the (rear end), that's what they used to call it. You couldn't lift your knee off the floor to run a guy off the post. They're doing it every time. They're taking (Gasol) out of the post so he can't get a tight post spot. We did complain about it (to the league office) against New Orleans, but the Mavs are doing the same damn thing. Until the league goes back to the rules they have about playing post play, Pau has to move out and face the basket. We're kind of resigned if they're not going to change the rules, they're not going to go back to what they used to have, so he's going to have to go out and face the basket and play more of a pinch post and do more screen-and-rolls."

Jackson also said he wasn't displeased by Gasol's play during the series despite having a couple of animated conversations with him during Game 3 on Friday night.

"He's obviously frustrated he can't get anything accomplished in there," Jackson said. "His defense I thought was exceptional last night. Obviously, (Dirk) Nowitzki had 30 points (actually 32 points0, but we're not concerned about that aspect of it. The points don't seem to bother us. It's what else happens besides it."