Bad news struck the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night as the former champs lost their star player, Stephen Curry, in the second quarter.
The loss of Curry was because he injured his leg while diving for a loose ball.
While trying to get a hold of the ball, Boston Celtics player Marcus Smart landed on Curry’s leg, surely causing the injury.
It didn’t seem intentional by Smart, but rather a sad byproduct of the physicality of the game.
But Warriors coach Steve Kerr sure didn’t think it was so innocent.
Marcus Smart and Steve Kerr had a conversation after Steph went back to the locker room with a rolled ankle.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 17, 2022
Kerr and Smart had a heated courtside conversation after Curry limped off to the locker room.
It’s hard to see what the very-animated Kerr was saying during the talk but it looks like he said: “You can’t do that, Marcus.”
So, was Kerr right to be mad at Smart?
A Tough Game
Smart landing on Curry definitely hurt the legendary point guard, there is no doubt about that.
However, context is important here.
It’s not like Smart was attempting to hurt Curry.
It looks like Smart was simply trying to get the ball, just like Curry was.
He wasn’t being malicious and he wasn’t intentionally trying to be overly physical.
The truth is that Smart and Curry were both hustling hard on behalf of their teams and Curry’s injury was a result of that.
You can’t blame Kerr for being upset because he’s very protective of his players.
But an honest look at the play shows that Smart wasn’t out for Curry and wasn’t attempting to harm him.
In the end, the Celtics took down the Warriors, 110-88, a fact that has many Warriors fans very, very nervous about a future without Curry.
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