Chris Finch says Timberwolves will ‘take justice into our own
Chris Finch isn’t happy with how Game 1 was gotten in touch with Tuesday night, and he’s prepared to do something about it.The Minnesota Timberwolves head coach, one day after the Golden State Warriors beat them 99-88 at the Target Center to begin their Western Conference semifinals series, threatened to “take justice into our own hands” if the authorities don’t even things out.
“We’ll certainly try to take justice into our own hands whenever we can. I think that’s the nature of a physical sport,” Finch said Wednesday, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “However by the same token, my god, you ought to see some of these clips. They’re simply pulling guards like linemen out there just taking chance ats Rudy [Gobert]”
Ad
The Warriors hung on late to pick up the Game 1 win on Tuesday night despite losing star Stephen Curry to a hamstring injury in the very first half. Curry will be sidelined for at least a week recovering. The Warriors developed an enormous lead at one point in the game, too, thanks to what was a harsh very first half from Minnesota.The Timberwolves handled just 31 points as a group in the first 24 minutes while shooting 0-of-15 from the 3-point line. Star Anthony Edwards had one point in the first half, too, and drew extremely pointed criticism from Finch since of it.When it comes to the physicality of the
game, however, it seemed called pretty evenly. The Timberwolves were examined 21 fouls, compared to the 18 that the Warriors received. That doesn’t suggest there weren’t fouls that were missed, but an uniformly called game– a minimum of on paper– is always a good thing.Advertisement But a huge portion of Finch’s criticism pertains to center Rudy Gobert, who ended up with nine points and 11 rebounds. Finch feels that his 7-foot-1 center was fouled repeatedly in the paint, and stated that they’ve sent numerous clips into the league office for review.”On protective rebounding, they do a lot of fouling, holding, pushing, pushing and taking on Rudy,”Finch said.”That’s clear … In reality, I’m not exactly sure I know another player in the league with Rudy’s pedigree that is allowed to be physically beaten en route he is. We have actually got to resolve that one method or another.”Finch, however, isn’t the only coach disturbed with the officiating.”Chris has his problems, I have mine.”Video game 2 of the series is set for Thursday night in Minneapolis. Based on Finch’s remarks, that contest will either be locked down by the authorities or
it will be extremely physical with the Timberwolves responding to his require “justice.” What that looks like stays to be seen.But if the Timberwolves can’t pick up a win, it might end up being an extremely brief series even with Curry sidelined. Heading to San Francisco in a two-game hole is not a location Finch wishes to be in whatsoever.