NBA should reexamine the forceful plays aimed at Rudy Gobert, as per a request from the Wolves' coaching staff, due to concerns over their legality and potential impact on player safety.
Wolfin' Down the Refs: Coach Finch's Fury Over Game 1 Loss
Coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves is still fuming over their defeat in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal series against the Golden State Warriors, and he's got some choice words for the referees. Tensions have been running high, and Finch believes officiating played a significant role in their 99-88 loss on Tuesday.
Finch ain't mincing words, either. He's called out the Warriors for targeting the Wolves' big man, Rudy Gobert, with a brutal brand of defense. According to Finch, the Golden State squad's tactics include fouling, shoving, holding, and even tackling Gobert during defensive rebounding. Finch isn't just spitting hot air—he's submitted a video montage of evidence to the league's office, highlighting these aggressive plays.
"Look at the footage—this ain't basketball. Rudy's getting smacked around like a tackled lineman," Finch said during practice. He adds, "I don't recall ever seeing another player of Rudy's stature endure such physical abuse. The refs gotta call these plays—there's no excuse."
Now, you might think the Warriors had reason to be physical, given they dominated the glass 51-41, including Gobert's 11 rebounds. However, that's a far cry from the 24 boards he snatched when the Wolves beat the LA Lakers in Game 5 of the first-round matchups.
"We're gonna take matters into our own paws, but the refs gotta do their job, too. They've gotta stop allowing this roughhousing," Finch clarified.
It seems the refs weren't as bad as Finch suggested, though. Minnesota was called for 21 fouls, while the Warriors had 18. But, the Warriors' coach, Steve Kerr, ain't be without his complaints about the officials.
"I was livid for the first ten minutes of the game. The refs were harsher on our boys than our cat, Curry," Kerr told reporters on Wednesday, with concerns focused on Curry.
"The refs were smothering Curry—they coulda called six fouls on him, but instead, they let a bit of roughhousing slide. The league's established a physicality for the playoffs, so we're gonna go at 'em, but the refs gotta balance that physicality with fairness," Kerr concluded.
In essence, both teams have valid gripes about the officiating, so viewers better gear up for a riveting battle between the Timberwolves and the Warriors as the series continues, with the refs under the spotlight.
- Coach Finch of the Timberwolves firmly believes that the aggressive defense employed by the Golden State Warriors against Rudy Gobert, including fouls, shoves, holds, and tackles, was a significant factor in their defeat in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal series.
- Finch has submitted a video montage to the league's office, aiming to highlight these questionable plays and emphasize the need for better officiating.
- While the Warriors dominated the rebounds in Game 1, Gobert's performance was considerably less spectacular than his 24 boards in the previous matchup against the LA Lakers.
- Steve Kerr, the Warriors' coach, also expressed his discontent with the officiating, noting that Curry was heavily targeted in the game, with potential fouls going uncalled.
- Kerr infers that the NBA has established a certain level of physicality for the playoffs, but maintains that the referees must strike a balance between this physicality and fairness to ensure a level playing field for both teams.
- With both teams harboring legitimate concerns about the officiating, the upcoming games between the Timberwolves and the Warriors are shaping up to be a captivating battle under the watchful eye of the referees.
