Star point guard Stephen Curry and Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr were fined $25,000 by the NBA for criticizing the referees in Game 6 of the Finals, which the Cleveland Cavaliers won 115- 101.
Kerr was called Thursday night’s sixth personal foul with five minutes left in the fourth quarter and then discussed referee Jason Phillips’ decision, removing his mouth guard and throwing it to the scorer’s table.
The protector ricocheted off and hit a son of one of the Cavaliers’ minority owners to whom Curry apologized before leaving the field.
This action, which cost him the expulsion from the game.
“The last fouls that have been pointed out to me against Kyrie Irving and LeBron James have not existed,” Curry later assured when commenting on the game in which he scored 30 points.
“They prevented me from helping my teammates at times when they needed me most,” he added.
Coach Kerr described what happened as a lack of respect towards Curry’s career, who he recalled is the winner for the second consecutive year of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, an achievement that has not been equaled.
“I understand the frustration Stephen showed. He is the MVP of the league. He has been called six personal fouls, and three of them are absolutely ridiculous,” Kerr said.
The Warriors coach was also categorical in admitting that his team did not lose the game because of the referees but because the Cavaliers played better than them.
“Let it be very clear: we did not lose the game because of the referees. The Cavaliers dominated us and deserved to win, but three of the six fouls that Curry has been called were inappropriate calls by any standard,” Kerr said.
Game 7 of the NBA Finals will be played next Sunday at Oracle Arena in Oakland. EFE
NBA imposes heavy fines on Curry and Golden coach
