Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr didn’t hold back in his postgame remarks after securing a 119-101 victory against the Charlotte Hornets, despite being slapped with a technical foul over officiating disputes. The Warriors, guided by a stellar performance from Steph Curry and Buddy Hield, who combined for 43 points, maintained their lead throughout the game. However, Kerr’s focus postgame was not just on the win but on what he perceives as a consistent oversight in NBA officiating—traveling.
Kerr’s Call for Better Officiating
Late in the third quarter, with the Warriors leading 70-63, Kerr was hit with a technical foul for vehemently protesting a missed travel call by the referees. This incident seemed to ignite a deeper frustration in Kerr, who later criticized the league’s approach to training officials.
“I don’t understand why we are not teaching our officials to call travels in this league,” Kerr stated, highlighting a gap in the enforcement of basic basketball rules.
Kerr pointed out the frequency of missed traveling calls, which he believes affects the integrity of the game.
“They do a great job, they work their tails off, they communicate well, but I see five or six travels a game that aren’t called,” he explained. This statement underlines his bewilderment at the lack of consistency in calling travels, which he emphasized was evident even among fans and coaches.
The Importance of Footwork in Basketball
The Warriors’ coach stressed the significance of footwork in basketball, asserting that it forms the foundation of the game.
“The entire game is based on footwork,” Kerr remarked, calling for the league to prioritize the enforcement of traveling rules for the betterment of the sport. His comments reflect a broader concern about the standards of officiating and how they impact the flow and fairness of gameplay.
Despite his grievances, Kerr also acknowledged his proactive efforts to address these issues with NBA authorities, albeit with a touch of humor about the potential repercussions of his outspokenness.
“I’ve made it clear to the league,” he said, adding, “I may hear back from them after these comments.”
Warriors’ Winning Streak Amid Officiating Concerns
Despite the ongoing disputes with officiating, the Warriors have been performing exceptionally well, winning six of their last seven games. This recent success has boosted them to sixth in the Western Conference standings, with a record of 33-28. The addition of Jimmy Butler, a key acquisition at the trade deadline, has also sparked optimism, although Kerr admits integrating him remains a work in progress.
As the Warriors continue their five-game road trip, facing teams like the New York Knicks, Kerr’s critique of NBA officiating is likely to resonate, sparking discussions on the enforcement of rules and the overall quality of the game. His call for a stricter adherence to the fundamentals of basketball, like traveling violations, underscores a need for consistency that could benefit the sport as a whole.
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