Minneapolis, Minnesota — Following a contentious Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch expressed deep concerns about the escalating physicality in the NBA playoffs. Finch criticized the level of contact allowed by officials, particularly regarding the treatment of star center Rudy Gobert. He noted that the Warriors employed a range of tactics—fouling, holding, and shoving—against Gobert, actions he believes are not sufficiently penalized.
“We have submitted numerous video clips to the league highlighting the excessive physicality toward Rudy,” Finch told reporters. “It’s hard to find another player of his caliber who endures this sort of punishment. This is an issue we need to address urgently.”
When pressed on whether Gobert should reciprocate by delivering physical play, Finch acknowledged that while Gobert does assert himself, the overall level of contact is problematic. “You should see some of these clips. It plays out like a football game when they are going after Rudy,” he said, indicating that the refereeing has allowed such behavior to persist.
In response to Finch’s remarks, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr noted that he noticed similar issues during Game 1. Laughing off the notion of a conspiracy, Kerr acknowledged the physicality but emphasized the league’s trend of allowing such contact to go unchecked. “I didn’t see fouls called on some of those plays, and yes, the contact in the lane was significant,” he remarked.
For Kerr, the issue extends beyond individual matchups. He expressed frustration over the broader implications of playoff officiating, suggesting that the physical nature of the games has led to inconsistent calls. “In the first few minutes of Game 1, it felt just like our past battles with Houston,” he said. “The league has established a level of physicality for the playoffs, and it seems like everyone is fouling each other.”
Both coaches recognize the challenges faced by officials in navigating the intensity of playoff basketball. “It’s a difficult task for them to call every foul given how hard both teams are playing,” Kerr said. “They could have called several fouls on us as well. It’s just part of playoff basketball; both teams will have complaints afterward.”
Moving forward, both Finch and Kerr seem to acknowledge the need to adapt. While they advocate for improvements in officiating, they also understand that their teams must respond to the increased physicality. “We’ve got to adjust our play to match that intensity, just as I’m sure Chris feels he must with his squad,” Kerr stated.
Ultimately, both coaches will be closely monitoring how officials set the tone in future games. They hope for a balance that allows for physical play while still maintaining a fair competitive environment. Despite their critiques, it’s clear that the intensity of playoff basketball is here to stay, and adapting to it is crucial for their teams’ success.