The Golden State Warriors have become a staple on the NBA Christmas Day slate. This year they went on the road to play against the defending champion Denver Nuggets in an afternoon matchup.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, they were unable to pick up what would have been a very impressive road victory. They lost 120-114, ending what was a five-game winning streak. Golden State will now be returning home for a seven-game homestand, which they hope can help rebuild some positive momentum.
Along with a return home, the Warriors are hoping for better-officiated games. Head coach Steve Kerr ripped into the officials for the job they did on Christmas Day, calling out the job the referees are doing when it comes to the overall performance around the NBA.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Steve Kerr, Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors Updates
“I have a problem with how we are legislating the defense out of the game,” Kerr said. “We are enabling players to B.S. their way to the foul line. If I were a fan, I wouldn’t have wanted to watch the second half of that game. It was disgusting. It was just baiting refs into calls, but the refs have to make those calls … the players are really smart in this league. For the last decade, they’ve gotten smarter and smarter. We have enabled the players, and they are taking full advantage.
“It’s a parade to the free throw line, and it’s disgusting to watch.”
Kerr was frustrated with how former MVP Nikola Jokic was officiated during the game on Monday afternoon. Jokic was at the foul line constantly, attempting and making 18 tries at the charity strip. That is the most free throws for him in a game and the most made on Christmas Day without a miss in NBA history.
While Jokic told ESPN that he isn’t actively thinking about selling a call while playing, he emphasizes remaining aggressive hoping that the referees will blow their whistle. On Monday, they were certainly willing to do so, given the number of free throws in which he attempted.
Selling calls, which borders on flopping, is a pandemic the NBA has to get control of. Too often games are being decided because defenders are picking up ticky-tack calls and having to sit on the bench while their opponent wears out a path to the foul line.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Steve Kerr, Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors Updates
Kerr isn’t the first coach who will issue a complaint about how games are being officiated and he certainly won’t be the last. Being on the losing end of it certainly hurts, as Kerr’s Warriors teams have benefited from some friendly whistles and adjustments to how the games are called in years past.
While the focus was on Jokic’s foul shooting, there are other areas of the game that the Warriors need to clean up to defeat teams as good as the Nuggets. Denver outscored them 20-8 when it came to fast break points and Golden State allowed them to shoot 41.2 percent from 3-point range and 48.8 percent overall from the field.
That certainly isn’t a winning recipe for basketball, as the 18 free throw attempts for Jokic, and 32 overall for the Nuggets, was the cherry on top.
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