Landon Buford
After game one win against the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, Golden State Warriors 2-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant told ESPN’s Doris Burke that Eric Gordon is a phenomenal player.
“Eric Gordon is a phenomenal player. We let them get downhill, but in the second half we fought them a little harder, but we made them shoot tough shots and I think our defensive won us the game, ” said Durant.
In game one Eric Gordon scored 27 points and added four rebounds, but it was not enough as the Rockets loss to the Warriors 100-104. Kevin Durant dropped 35 points, grabbed five, and three assists. Also, after game one there was a lot of controversy surrounding the officiating and the landing spot for shooters.
Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni shared with the press that the official admitted at halftime the missed foul calls three-point shots.
” They just came at halftime and said they missed them. They missed four of them. That’s 12 foul shots.”
After Game 1 loss to Warriors, Rockets' Mike D'Antoni weighs in on the officials not calling fouls on three-point shots: "They just came at halftime and said they missed them. They missed four of them. That's 12 foul shots." pic.twitter.com/IA6lqeuvcv
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 28, 2019
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon asked Harden did felt the Warriors gameplay was to test the limits until the refs decided to call the closeout fouls on him.
Harden replied, “I just want a fair chance, man. Just call the game the way it’s supposed to be called and we’ll live with the results.”
“I just want a fair chance, man. Especially because we all know what happened a few years back with Kawhi – like that can change an entire series. Just call the game the way it’s supposed to be called, and we’ll live with the results. It’s plain and simple.”
"I just want a fair chance, man. Just call the game the way it’s supposed to be called and we’ll live with the results.”
James Harden voiced his opinion about the officiating after Game 1. pic.twitter.com/9GmtB2EjPp
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 28, 2019
Harden was referring to the way Kawhi was injured in the playoff a couple of years ago when Zaza Pachulia didn’t give Leonard enough space to land correctly. The Spurs would go on to lose that series, and Leonard would miss the following season as well.
