Following the Warriors’ 128-11 loss to the Bucks on Tuesday, Steve Kerr explained that missed calls involving Steph Curry set him off, leading to his technical foul.
The list of wishes submitted by Dub Nation in recent years is long and in some instances wholly unrealistic. One that has simmered for years was addressed Tuesday night.
Steve Kerr was visibly irritated with the way Stephen Curry was officiated in a 128-111 loss to the Bucks at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
One call, in particular, came late in the first quarter, when Bucks guard Wesley Matthews, coming from the rear and then the side, whacked Curry in the head with his left arm in the process of shooting a 3-pointer. Curry drained the shot, but the lack of a whistle had both Curry and his coach bristling, with both being assessed technical fouls.
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SIGN UP HERE And neither was in the mood for excuses after the game.
“Anytime the defender is asking you ‘Are you are alright?’ and the ref is like, ‘I didn’t see anything,’ that’s kind of a funny situation to be in,” Curry told reporters in Milwaukee. “I thought it was clear that I got hit in the face. I was actually surprised it went in. I was more worried about where the foul call was.
“That was a heat-of-the-moment thing. You let your emotions out.”
Running back on defense, Curry protested vociferously until he was whistled by umpire Ray Acosta. When Kerr let loose with his indignation seconds later, he received the tech treatment from referee Ben Taylor.
None of the three referees was in a perfect position to see the contact, after which Curry landed on his butt.
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“I was already mad at several non-calls in the paint,” said Kerr, who earned every note his tech. “There should have been a block on (Khris) Middleton on Jordan Poole’s drive, and the officials admitted they missed that. Then I thought Jordan got fouled on reverse layup. And then there was a continuation that was given to Giannis (Antetokounmpo) that I didn’t feel like was continuation. It just felt like we were on the bad end of things.”
As Kerr spoke at the postgame podium, his fury became increasingly transparent. There was a lot about which to be exasperated – curious officiating, sloppy performance, being outmuscled – but the non-call on Matthews’ contact Curry took the coach over the top.
“And then Steph Curry gets hit in the head on a 3-point shot,” he continued. “That needs to be called! That’s what he does. It’s Steph Curry. You can’t miss that. I was frustrated because if Steph gets a technical, then he definitely got fouled.”
NBA traditionally have a subjective whistle relative to the players involved. They relentlessly promote the league’s best players, whose presence is good for business.
Revenue always is the priority, so superstars generally are treated with a certain reverence. See: Jordan, Michael. Bird, Larry. Malone, Karl. Nowitzki, Dirk. James, LeBron. Harden, James (Rockets version). Doncic, Luka. Check their free throw totals.
Rarely, though, is Curry – a two-time MVP whose physique is considerably smaller than the aforementioned seven – afforded such recognition by officials.
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Despite frequently attacking the rim, Curry averages a mere 4.3 free throws per game over a career now in Year 14. His per-game average of 6.3 free throws in 2020-21 was a career-high. He’s averaging 5.0 this season, tied for 36th. Kristaps Porzingis shoots more free throws. Rookies Paolo Banchero and Bennedict Mathurin shoot more free throws.
Curry may never get the whistle most players of his stature expect.
Kerr’s response Tuesday night to that particular non-call was his most passionate defense of his franchise player. The coach jumped off the bench in real-time, and then literally pounded the table in his postgame news conference.
“That’s what an engaged coach should do,” Curry said. “I told him I appreciate the energy.”
That appreciation is matched, if not exceeded, by Curry’s most devoted hoop congregants. Kerr’s rant might not make an iota of difference, and probably won’t, but the spice displayed answered the wishes of many.