The Golden State Warriors went without a timeout on the deciding possession of Tuesday’s game, but coach Steve Kerr says there was more to the story.
Down 94-92 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors got the rebound off a James Harden miss with 15 seconds left in the game and went ahead with their offense despite having a timeout left. As time ticked away, Klay Thompson got trapped with the ball and had to fire a contested turnaround jumper that wasn’t close.
KLAY WTF WAS THAT? pic.twitter.com/FmLfd51GJx
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) May 23, 2018
The Warriors would go on to lose 95-92, and Twitter immediately questioned why Kerr did not use his timeout when the possession fell apart.
Media better ask Kerr why he didn't call a time out.
— Alex (@Dubs408) May 23, 2018
A reporter better ask Steve Kerr about not calling a timeout when Klay was stuck.
He’s paid millions of dollars to be ready for that situation and just stood there doing nothing.
— Eric Rosenthal (@ericsports) May 23, 2018
Someone gonna ask Kerr about that TO he had in his pocket… when the offense stalled like my first car as a teenager?
— Jorge Sedano (@SedanoESPN) May 23, 2018
Speaking with reporters after the game, Kerr said that Draymond Green was trying to call the timeout when Thompson was trapped but that the refs did not see him and did not look at the bench, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
Steve Kerr said Draymond Green was trying to call a timeout when Klay Thompson was trapped late, referees didn't see it and they didn't look down at the bench. But said he is a proponent of the KD push without a timeout.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 23, 2018
Green can indeed be seen apparently motioning for a timeout with about five seconds left in the above clip. Regardless though, the Warriors have now surrendered homecourt advantage back to the Rockets, which has to be demoralizing considering how they started Game 4.
