Rivers submits video of jumpball to league

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WALTHAM -- Doc Rivers will submit game tape to the NBA in response to a jumpball call on Friday against the Chicago Bulls.

The Celtics led by two points with just seconds to play in regulation when Rajon Rondo inbounded the ball to Paul Pierce. The Bulls trapped Pierce and the refs whistled for a jumpball. The Bulls won the jumpball and hit the game-tying bucket, forcing overtime and eventually beating the Celtics, 100-99.

Rivers believes Rondo signaled for a timeout before the jumpball was called and that Pierce was fouled on the possession.

"He was fouled, there's no doubt about that," Rivers said prior to Saturday's practice. "I also thought if you watch it, Rondo absolutely called a timeout and it's clear. He was literally an inch away from Marc Davis' face and did it twice. And then you can see Sean Corbin's hand go up for a jumpball. So it was clear that, in my opinion, he was fouled, number one. And number two, we got the timeout and it wasn't called."

Last season Rondo received a one-game suspension for bumping Davis during a playoff game. Rivers does not think that played into the situation on Friday.

"I hope there's never any grudges and stuff like that being held," he said. "It is a human game, and so you do know that. I think our league is better than that."

Rivers is selective in what film he submits to the league. He tries not contest bad calls even the human element of the game, noting, "We miss shots, they miss calls." So what kind of outcome is he hoping for when he sends in this tape?

"I feel better," he said.

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