Steve Kerr Comments on Officials, Loss to Cavaliers in Game 6 of NBA Finals
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacek
Featured ColumnistJune 17, 2016
The Cleveland Cavaliers controlled Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Thursday and beat the Golden State Warriors 115-101. However, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr was not pleased with the way his star player was officiated during the contest.
“He had every right to be upset. He's the MVP of the league," Kerr said when discussing Stephen Curry and the fact that he fouled out of Thursday’s game, per Rachel Nichols of ESPN. "He gets six fouls on him; three were absolutely ridiculous.”
The two-time MVP not only fouled out, but he also threw his mouthguard in disgust after his sixth was called in the fourth quarter.
“Kerr obviously is here to get fined and defend his guy," Nichols observed. "Calls the officials out by name. Says he's fine with Steph throwing his mouthpiece.”
Kerr called out official Jason Phillips for falling for what he deemed a flop by Cavaliers star LeBron James.
NBA TV shared Kerr’s extended comments:
After Kerr's press conference, David Aldridge of NBA.com suggested Golden State's coach will be in touch with the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations: “Kerr should just hand his wallet to Kiki Vandeweghe before he gets on the bus after this presser."
While Kerr was specifically upset with the way the officials treated Curry on Thursday, each team was whistled for 25 personal fouls.
James dominated the game with 41 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks, while no Warriors player except Curry (30) and Klay Thompson (25) scored more than 14 points.
Cleveland was the better team in Game 6 and was in control for the majority of the contest after outscoring Golden State 31-11 in the first quarter.
It is interesting to compare the two primary stars in the series, as James has shot 33 free throws, while Curry has attempted 27. However, there is something to be said for the differences between the two players before pointing to the officials. James is a more physical player who often drives to the basket and absorbs contact as a 6’8” forward, while Curry set the NBA record for made three-pointers in a season with 402.
| Game-by-Game Free-Throw Comparison | |||
| Game | Result | Stephen Curry | LeBron James |
| 1 | 104-89, Golden State | 0-of-0 | 3-of-4 |
| 2 | 110-77, Golden State | 0-of-0 | 4-of-4 |
| 3 | 120-90, Cleveland | 4-of-4 | 3-of-5 |
| 4 | 108-97, Golden State | 9-of-10 | 2-of-4 |
| 5 | 112-97, Cleveland | 4-of-4 | 5-of-8 |
| 6 | 115-101, Cleveland | 8-of-9 | 6-of-8 |
| Source: ESPN.com | |||
Players are inherently more likely to earn whistles if they aggressively take it to the hole, and James shot 491 free throws this season (which was the lowest mark of his 13-year career outside of his rookie season), compared to Curry’s 400 (which was the highest mark of his seven-year career).
In light of Kerr’s comments, the Warriors are likely not thrilled with the officials and the NBA in general in this series, especially after the league suspended Draymond Green for Game 5 with Golden State ahead 3-1 for an accrual of four flagrant-foul points, per Sports Illustrated.
Curry’s wife, Ayesha Curry, even tweeted that the NBA was “absolutely rigged for money” and she “lost all respect” for it Thursday before deleting it, per Sports Illustrated.
With the frustration on Golden State’s side serving as a backdrop, attention now turns to Sunday’s do-or-die Game 7 in Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.
Seth Davis of Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports said Kerr’s potential fine for his comments was “worth every penny.”
Nichols also suggested Kerr had another motive outside of the straight criticism after Thursday’s loss:
If the officials even subconsciously have Kerr’s comments tucked away in the back of their minds and give Curry any benefit of the doubt with the whistle in Game 7, any fine will be worthwhile for Kerr.
A championship and an esteemed spot in NBA history are at stake for the Warriors because they would forever be in the discussion as one of the best teams ever with 73 regular-season wins and a second straight title, but a loss means they would become the first team to ever blow a 3-1 lead in the Finals. Those 73 wins would suddenly have a championship-less asterisk alongside them.
There is already a precedent in place for a Kerr fine from this series, as Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue was fined $25,000 for criticizing the officials after his team lost Game 4, per NBA.com. The Cavaliers are a perfect 2-0 since Lue was fined, and Kerr is looking for the same type of reaction from his team after his comments.