After beating the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night in a 116-104 victory to get their first win of the first-round series, Minnesota Timberwolves Chris Finch shared his thoughts on the way the NBA officiating is allowing more physicality this postseason.
“If you look around the playoffs right now, I mean, it’s super physical,” Finch told reporters Thursday. “To me, they’ve gone way too far on the physicality.”
Finch stressed that he was not complaining about the way the series between the Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers, in particular, had been reffed. He was making a point about the type of contact that has been allowed in general.
“It feels like it’s physicality without purpose,” Finch said. “It’s disrupted the flow. If there’s not a fight in that Houston–Golden State series, I’d be surprised. I mean, that thing just feels like it’s on the edge every single time. You play 82 games in a certain way and then they flip the switch, and I do worry about the ability to be able to control that. But that’s what they want, and that’s what we’re getting right now.” (CBS)
This postseason has seen brutal injuries to stars Jimmy Butler and Ja Morant that will significantly alter the outcomes of the games. Referees have allowed the players, out of nowhere, to play a radically different style than they prepared for all 82 games.
How does the physical play affect Chris Finch and the T-Wolves?
Fortunately for Chris Finch, his roster is full of guys like Naz Reid, Donte DiVicenzo and Julius Randle—players who are constantly in search of the smoke like fire department dalmations.
Naz and Donte have already been suspended for their involvement in an altercation with the Detroit Pistons last month.
Julius Randle plays like he leads the NFL in yards after contact.
And they’re led by Anthony Edwards who talks shit all game long, ready and able to dunk on anyone who has anything sweet to say to him.
The “super physical” play may be the Minnesota Timberwolves secret ticket to making the NBA Finals.
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