Heading back to San Francisco, the Kings have the Warriors down 2–0 in the Western Conference’s opening round playoff series, putting Golden State in unfamiliar territory as it tries to defend its NBA title.
The Warriors’ season is on the brink if either one of the next two games are dropped at home, and to make matters worse, Draymond Green has been suspended for Game 3 due to his stomp on Kings forward Domantas Sabonis.
While the Warriors could certainly play better, NBA analyst JJ Redick believes that Golden State has been on the wrong end of the whistle too. He proclaimed that stance during Wednesday’s edition of First Take on ESPN.
“[The officials] have allowed too much in this series. They have allowed too much,” Redick said emphatically. “I have no problem with physical play in the playoffs. But if Steph Curry is not allowed to move off the ball…if you’re preventing players from running down the court and you’re allowing that to happen…there was a play late in Game 2 where Kevon Looney is underneath the rim ready for a rebound and Sabonis crashes in, pushes him in the back. They don’t call the foul. That’s a foul.
“The referees have dictated too much in the Kings’ favor in the series. I really believe that, and I don’t know if it’s the home crowd or whatever. I rarely complain about the referees. In fact, I don’t know if I’ve ever complained about the referees. I think they’re great. But if [the Warriors] are going to come back in the series, they’ve gotta call the game the way the game is supposed to be called.”
JJ Redick this morning: “The refs have dictated too much in the Kings favor this series.” pic.twitter.com/qfOSU1gtPX
— Cameron Salerno (@cameronsalerno1) April 19, 2023
It will certainly be an interesting Game 3 with the officiating being criticized and Green being suspended. The Warriors will look to overcome a number of obstacles to try to get the series back 2–1 when Game 3 is played on Thursday night in San Francisco.
