Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors coach) : “I have never seen a foul on a lost ball during a fight for possession. I have never seen this. Maybe once in college 30 years ago. I’ve never seen that in the NBA. This is unacceptable. I don’t even understand what just happened. A dragging ball, a fight on the floor, 25 yards from the basket, and you give a guy two free throws to decide the game, as players fight for the ball. Just call a timeout and let the players decide the match. This is how we referee. Especially since the match was a real wrestling match. They didn’t whistle anything.
“A decision that a primary school referee would not have made”
Steph Curry was hit in the elbow on a jump shot. He received a blow right on the elbow. No fault. So you have established that you are not going to whistle anything throughout the match. It’s a physical match. And call a foul on a lost ball in a struggle with guys diving to the ground? While the match is on the line? This is a billion dollar industry. There are jobs at stake. I am stunned. I give the Rockets credit for fighting, playing great defense all night. But I feel bad for our guys. They fought and played their part. They deserved to win this match. We should have at least had the opportunity for a save at the end to end the match. And it was taken away from us by a decision that a grade school referee wouldn’t have made.
I’m not ready to answer this question. I have nerves. I wanted to go to Las Vegas. We wanted to win this cup. And we’re not going there because of a foul on a loose ball 25 yards from the basket, with the game on the line. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. It was ridiculous. THANKS. »
