Steve Kerr was upset with Marcus Smart over committing two plays against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, including one play the Warriors coach deemed “dangerous.”
The Boston Celtics smashed the Warriors 110-88 on Wednesday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. Warriors coaches were upset over a sequence that occurred with just over four minutes left in the second quarter.
Smart dove for a loose ball and went into Steph Curry’s leg, hurting the guard. Then, while racing back to play transition defense, Smart kicked Klay Thompson after falling for a fake.
The Warriors staff was upset with both of these Marcus Smart plays. First one was a roll up of Steph Curry's leg that has him currently in the locker room, second ruled a flagrant on Klay Thompson. Kerr was telling refs to review both plays, mimicking a leg chop to officials. pic.twitter.com/6edSJxQszv
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 17, 2022
Kerr could be seen pointing at Smart as the officials reviewed the play. The Warriors coach was angry and telling Smart he had hurt Curry and that “you can’t do that.”
Looks like Kerr was yelling at Marcus Smart “YOU WERE TRYING TO HURT HIM”, after Smart dove into Steph’s knees.
pic.twitter.com/Z6dpXkCAC5— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) March 17, 2022
The two men later exchanged words:
Steve Kerr, who coached Marcus Smart with USAB, took issue with Smart diving on the floor, inadvertently rolling on Steph Curry’s ankle. pic.twitter.com/VOtRMxmAa3
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) March 17, 2022
Curry left the game due to a foot injury and was set to undergo an MRI.
After the game, Kerr remained upset with Smart over the “dangerous” play.
Here’s the full Steph Curry update from Steve Kerr, plus his take on what he felt was a “dangerous” play from Marcus Smart pic.twitter.com/RhEMvHc0my
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 17, 2022
“I thought it was a dangerous play,” Kerr said. “I thought Marcus dove into Steph’s knee, and that’s what I was upset about. (I have) a lot of respect for Marcus. … We talked after the game. We’re good. But I thought it was a dangerous play, just letting him know.”
Kerr’s anger likely is due to his star player getting hurt. Smart legitimately was going for a loose ball, so his attempt did not seem dangerous. However, his kick to Thompson on the other end was not a basketball play, which is why Smart was called for a flagrant-1 foul.
