Chris Finch isn’t happy just because his Timberwolves stole Game 1 on the road against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.
The Timberwolves head coach isn’t pleased with Victor Wembanyama’s playoff-record 12 blocks in Minnesota’s 104-102 Game 1 victory. In fact, he’s not convinced they were all blocks.
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Finch expressed disappointment on Tuesday at the way officials called (or did not call) the Wembanyama blockades on Monday night.
“When we looked at them, at least four of them were in goal,” Finch told reporters at a media briefing. “Maybe even a fifth. It’s a little alarming to me that none of them have been called.“Here’s a generational shot blocker who’s 7-foot-6 and goes after everything, and isn’t there a greater awareness that these blocks could be goals?”
Finch went on to specifically mention Wembanyama’s second called block of the game of a Terrence Shannon Jr. layup attempt.
“The third possession of the game was a scoring play,” Finch continued. “It was clear and obvious. So let’s say it was four. That’s eight points. Do you know the value of eight points in an NBA game? Huge.”
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Finch is not wrong. At least when it comes to the third possession of the game.
Shannon attacked the basket in transition with Wembanyama behind. Wembanyama blocked Shannon’s layup attempt after the ball clearly hit the glass.
This should have been an easy decision for the goalie. But it wasn’t like that.
The game remained tied scoreless, and Wembanyama was credited with two blocks on two Minnesota possessions after blocking another Shannon layup attempt on the game’s first possession.
This set the tone for Wembanyama’s record-breaking night. Finch went to great lengths Tuesday to make sure it didn’t set the tone for the entire series.
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Confronting referees through the media is a time-tested tradition in the NBA playoffs, as coaches look to gain an advantage whenever they can in a best-of-seven series. It helps their cause when they have video evidence to back up their case, which Finch unquestionably does here with at least one objective he should be.
Keep an eye on how Wembanyama’s blocks are officiated in Game 2 and beyond. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday in San Antonio (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).