Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said he deserves all the blame for the team’s putrid performance in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets.
“I didn’t have them ready to play clearly,” Kerr said via The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. “We committed three fouls in the first two minutes of the game. We can’t come out with that lack of defensive focus and energy and expect to beat a great team on their own floor in a closeout game.”
The Golden State Warriors looked flat from the get-go and were outscored 76-49 in the first half, which was enough to lose the game. They let the Houston Rockets shoot 55.1 percent from the field compared to their 41.7 field goal percentage.
Stephen Curry was the only starter with double-digit points, with 13 points, three rebounds, and seven assists on 4-for-12 shooting from the field in 23 minutes. Moses Moody, Kevin Knox II, and Pat Spencer came off the bench and added 25, 14, and 11 points.
Golden State Warriors News: Steve Kerr calls out refs for “idiotic” rule
Steve Kerr slammed the officials for letting the Houston Rockets get away with “targeting” Stephen Curry’s injured right thumb whenever he shoots. The NBA rulebook allows “minimal contact” from a defender once a shot is released, and Houston are making the most out of it.
“Players are going to do what they’re allowed to do. On every release, Steph’s getting hit. It’s basically within the rules. This is how the league wants it right now,” Kerr said via Warriors on NBCS.
“I know we’ve got 30 coaches who all think it’s just idiotic that we allow this. So, we’ll have to take it through the competition committee, all that stuff this summer. We’ll get it fixed,” he added.
