OAKLAND – The $5,000 fine dropped upon Stephen Curry was roundly unpopular with his coaches and teammates, so much so they’re practically urging an appeal.
The NBA issued the fine Wednesday, accusing Curry of “flopping” in the fourth quarter of Game 1 in the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night.
“I am morally outraged,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, with only the tiniest scintilla of jest, after practice Wednesday.
“These plays happen every day,” he added. “I don’t think a game goes by where (Clippers guard) Jamal Crawford doesn’t flop six times on his 3-point shots. It’s part of the game. And I don’t blame him for doing it because a lot of times the refs call it. (Thunder guard) Russell Westbrook does it. Everybody does it. So all of a sudden just randomly to fine Steph just seems kind of strange.”
Curry was fined for a play on which he took and made a 3-point shot with 3:08 remaining in a 110-106 win over the Rockets. Brushed by Houston forward Terrence Jones while airborne, Curry landed on the floor.
There was obvious contact but no whistle was blown. The NBA reviewed the play and took action against Curry.
“You never know how they determine what’s a flop and what’s not,” Curry said. “They didn’t even talk to me about the play at all. I figured they’d call and ask . . . try to get my side of it.
“I don’t agree with it,” Curry added.
Center Andrew Bogut, having just heard about the fine, expressed surprise.
“That’s pretty crazy,” he said. “They’re setting a precedent with that kind of stuff. There are certain guys on certain teams that would get fined every game. There are a couple guys in the league that fall over on every 3-point shot.
“Hopefully, they look at it again and he gets his money back.”
Kerr seemed particularly miffed at the arbitrary nature of the fine.
“It’s part of the game,” he said. “You go up and a guy challenges you on a shot. And I understand the league wants to get rid of it, but my point is why do we let all the other ones go?”
