Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr didn’t hold back after his team’s controversial loss to the Houston Rockets in the NBA Cup. Following the game, Kerr criticized the officiating, claiming that crucial calls were missed and that they directly impacted the outcome of the game.
But what exactly did Kerr say, and how did this affect the Warriors’ morale? Let’s dive into Kerr’s reaction and the fallout from this intense game.
The Golden State Warriors lost to the Houston Rockets at the NBA Cup and now Steve Kerr thinks that the referees deserve some blame for the Warriors not winning.
Kerr’s outburst was surprising, given that he was always calm in the past, however, his anger makes sense given that his team seemed to be on the wrong end of the officiating during crucial moments of the game.
The Warriors coach started out by claiming off the officials’ decisions that he felt went against his team; one such instance was a close foul Kerr was on the receiving end of in the then closing moments of the match – many fans and analysts were of the opinion that the referees did indeed miss that foul.
Kerr was visibly upset at this point and called out for a proper cause, Contrary to what some might argue, I agree that this foul should simplest of all arguments had an impact on the final score.
Kerr’s statements were not limited to a single unpleasant call. He voiced dissatisfaction that the performance of the referees in some instances over the course of the game was also affecting the game’s pace thus making it difficult for his team to get into the game.
As per Kerr on the occasions when referees are inconsistent in their calls, the players’ concentration and performance get hampered. He however elaborated that this kind of frustration is not about just losing a game but about the integrity of the sport.
Kerr’s comments were disapproving, but then again this is not the first time Kerr has dissed on officiating. During his career, there have been animadversions made by Kerr regarding the referees of the NBA on high-stakes matches such as the NBA Cup.
However, this particular one was more targeted and emotionally charged as it was the game of the day that played a large role in ensuring the success of the Warriors.
Losing to the Rockets hurt more due to the wait they experienced after an off-season where the hope was to grab an early grip in the NBA cup, the Warriors ‘ Steve Kerr commented how without this particular loss the whole season wouldn’t make sense for the rest of the league.
However, as always with Steve Kerr, the Warriors head coach, he was optimistic about how the entire season panned out for them while expressing his belief that such officiating would help his team grow. Many were left questioning whether this frustration would be what helps the Warriors bounce back or whether it would affect them in upcoming games.
In any case, Kerr’s remarks drew a mixed response from the audience, while some fans and differences over the key decisions made by officials during the crucial moments sided with Kerr over the loss, others did not agree, feeling that his irritation over the loss was uncalled for, claiming there was a lesser impact from the referee over the loads of missed shots and the mistakes made by the players.
There was some idyllic talk of the controversy that occurred in Quebec City, however, Kerr’s rebuttal did reflect the spirit of true sportsmanship within him looking to have a fair shot at the game. Although it certainly was a brutal defeat, one nevertheless could see the true side of Kerr, one not afraid to defend his players when they were not done justice.
Ultimately, the defeat by the Rockets and the words of coach Kerr seem to have opened a debate regarding the degree to which referee activity alters the outcome of a game. For the Warriors, this is a disappointment, but they are determined to focus on the next match and get past the uncertainty to emerge victorious once again.
