Van Gundy defends former coach Jackson
Ex-Warriors coach Mark Jackson has been the frequent subject of criticism by Golden State fans since Steve Kerr took over for Jackson and the Warriors went to five NBA Finals in his first five years.
There were also some serious allegations leveled against Jackson last month via reporting from Ethan Strauss, who said Golden State's former coach was a divisive force in the locker room near the end of his regime.
In a radio interview Wednesday, former NBA coach and current ESPN color commentator Jeff Van Gundy, who works alongside Jackson, defended his broadcast partner.
“As a friend and as a basketball person, I'm frankly quite tired of the slander that gets put out by some of the media members that goes unquestioned by some of the Warrior people who very well may be behind it,” Van Gundy said.
The former coach of the Knicks and Rockets was quick to point out that he has great respect for Steve Kerr, too, noting that he admires “the humility and the respect that both have shown to each other” since Kerr took over and Jackson began working as a commentator.
As for his pregame prediction on Thursday's game coached by Kerr?
“I thought Boston would win in five, then when that didn't come through I thought Boston would win in six. So the best thing for Warrior fans is when I pick Boston because I'm never right — like literally never. So I will say it'll go to Game
7, which should be absolute music to the ears of every Warriors fan.”
Official business
In addition to their propensity for unforced errors this series, the Celtics have shown a tendency to complain when games get tight, and nowhere more than in Game 5, when excessive whining led to technical fouls for both Celtics coach Ime Udoka and point guard Marcus Smart — the latter with a particularly damaging fourth-quarter whistle.
Grousing became enough of an issue this week that it has been addressed inside the locker room, according to Al Horford, who was bothered enough by the issue to call out the behavior Monday night.
“We addressed it, and we understand that we have to move past it,” Horford said following Wednesday's practice. “The officials are
not perfect at the end of the day. We just need to go out there and focus on us, on what we need to do. I believe that the group understands that, and that's our intention.”
Udoka admits that the constant sight of Celtics confronting officials has to end.
“I would say so. I think in general just too many conversations being had at times,” said the Celtics coach. “Feels like after foul calls or dead balls, free throws, timeouts, there's somebody talking to a ref. Something we emphasized early in the season and had gotten away from quite a bit. So something we got to spend our energy on the game, and everything else going in between, other than the referees. An area we can be better at, for sure.
“I think we're complaining at times too much
throughout the game. Late game may not be any different than first, second or third quarter,” he said. “Some we need to block out and be better at overall . ... The refereeing, I don't know if that impacted anything late game as much as throughout or any different.”
Commissioner Silver misses Game 6
NBA commissioner Adam Silver missed his second straight NBA Finals game Thursday.
Silver has been in the NBA's COVID protocols since before Game 5 Monday in San Francisco. The league has not specified whether he has tested positive or is a close contact of someone who's tested positive.