Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was not happy with Andrew Wiggins getting called for a blocking foul late in the clutch during their loss to the OKC Thunder.
“That’s Shai. He’s one-on-one at the top of the key. He’s really tough, and they got shooters everywhere. So, you try to throw a few different things at him. But he made tough shots. I was disappointed we didn’t get the challenge. I thought, from the replay, it looked like Wiggs was in position, went up and he swiped down, but he didn’t hit him. But they said it was a block, that the NBA has this ‘legal guarding position’ thing they talk about, and we’re the only league in the world where, if you’re sliding your feet and you’re moving a little bit and the guy bumps into you, we call a blocking foul because it’s legal guarding position. So, I was disappointed on that play, but it’s the way it goes.”
Steve Kerr was disappointed this blocking call on Andrew Wiggins wasn't overturned by replay review 🔽 pic.twitter.com/3foZ3f1ndn
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 19, 2023
An attempted steal became a blocking foul, as Wiggins was moving when he swiped down on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s dribble and sent Shai to the line to unnecessarily hurt the Warriors’ two-point advantage.
With 1:26 remaining in the fourth quarter, Andrew Wiggins was called for a blocking foul, which was upheld after replay review …
Right call? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/EzfDGJ2INu
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 19, 2023
What Wiggins did does technically fit the definition of a blocking foul, so the call itself wasn’t wrong. However, it seems a tad bit excessive to penalize players this hard for playing good defense. If the ball-handler is constantly moving, is the defender not supposed to stay in motion as well? How else are they expected to defend such possessions and players?
The tensions in the Warriors locker room are very high after this loss, as it was their sixth consecutive defeat in a row.
Stephen Curry Alarmed At Warriors Losing Streak
Stephen Curry has been the leader of the Warriors for years and missed a few games due to injury. He’s tried rushing back from it as well, with the Warriors desperately needing his production to even be competitive in the West. He openly discussed the state of the Warriors right now, calling their current situation a problem and something that’s affecting the locker room.
“(A) losing streak like this, there’s urgency for sure… Anytime you’re at this many in a row, it’s a problem that you have to fix and you don’t want to develop a losing mentality at all at any stretch in the season. That’s a stink in the locker room you don’t really want to have in there.”
Curry is having his greatest start to a season since his MVP year, currently averaging 30.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. The problem isn’t him but the production of co-stars Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins.
Thompson is averaging a shocking 14.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists this season. Wiggins had a big game against the OKC Thunder by putting up 31 points but is averaging 12.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists overall this season. Until production from these stars reaches a consistent level, Curry will be expected to backpack this team to incredible wins.
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