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DeMarcus Cousins complains refs unfairly target him on technicals

Caption: Mar 8, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry and forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) talk to referee Ron Garretson (10) in the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports Created:

DeMarcus Cousins is notorious for receiving technical fouls. Apparently, however, one referee might’ve been too loose with the call.

According to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, Cousins said he was slapped with a technical for telling an official, “good job.”

“I said, ‘Good job. Good call.’ And I got a tech? I swear to God on my kids. I have yet to have a moment where I just erupt or go off [this season]. I haven’t had one of those, but for some reason I’m still leading the league in techs.”

Citing a source, Spears said that the league has rescinded that technical, along with one more. ESPN lists Cousins with eight techs in 2017.

Now, we don’t know the entire story, and Cousins has a less-than-stellar history interacting with officials. But if “good job” resulted in a technical, that’s pretty ridiculous.

Regardless, this is something to monitor moving forward, especially since the Pelicans are in the playoff hunt. Once a player reaches 16 technicals, he’s subject to a one-game suspension. Every two techs after that also causes a one-game ban.

Cousins has racked up 26.1 points with 12.5 rebounds and a career-high 5.1 assists per game this season, so he’s an essential piece of a thin Pelicans roster. New Orleans cannot afford to have Cousins miss a couple of outings late in the regular season or during the playoffs.

The passionate center must control his emotions, but referees need to judge Cousins’ actions like they do everyone else.

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