Fans still let voices be heard
Comments on Oracle’s loudness are disregarded
OAKLAND — Pregame remarks made by both coaches Monday had the same effect — fans at Oracle Arena were as loud as usual during the Warriors’ 97- 87 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in Game 2 of the playoff series.
Pelicans coach Monty Williams called the noise level at Oracle in Game 1 “a little out of control,” and questioned whether the decibel level was legal.
That was just too easy for Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who made a joking plea to Warriors fans a couple hours before tipoff. “I’m just going to make an appeal to our fans to be as quiet as possible,” he said. “It’s the least we can do.”
The sellout crowd paid no heed to Kerr’s faux instructions. Decked out in yellow “Strength in Numbers” T- shirts, fans roared at every opportunity.
The Pelicans kept coming, but so did the crowd.
“It was unbelievable,” center Andrew Bogut said afterward. “At one point it got to where we couldn’t even hear the whistle. That’s what we want. We love that from our fans and the atmosphere they provide. We wouldn’t want to play anywhere else in the world.”
Did Williams
merely Warriors fans at Oracle Arena cheered at their usual loud decibel levels during Golden State’s Game 2 victory. make things worse with his comments?
“They’ve got some of the best fans in the league, so I don’t know if you can add any more fuel to the fire,” Williams said pregame.
Kerr seemed puzzled by the notion that the noise could reach illegal levels. “I know the NBA likes to control a lot of things, but I don’t think they can control how loud the fans yell,” he said.
“It’s a loud building,” Kerr said. “It’s fun … especially if you’re the home team.”
Kerr conceded he n made a mistake by not playing his bench more in Game 1, when reserves totaled just 12 points. He changed the equation Monday, giving Andre Iguodala, Leandro Barbosa, Shaun Livingston, Marreese Speights and Festus Ezeli 74 minutes, during which they combined for 25 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.
“This game was much more indicative of our team,” Kerr said. “I didn’t give the bench enough of a chance in Game 1.”
The bench produced 17 second- quarter points and the Warriors turned a 2817 hole into a 55- 52 lead. “They changed the game,” Stephen Curry said. “Everybody on the bench was ready. That’s why we’re so good.”
Toronto’s Lou Williams, n who averaged 15.5 points while helping the Raptors to a franchiserecord 49 victories, was named the Kia NBA Sixth Man Award. Iguodala and Marreese Speights finished fourth and seventh, respectively, in voting done by a panel of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters.
Iguodala seemed almost relieved Williams won. “I was hoping I didn’t get it. I mean, I really didn’t have a good year, so I’m glad Lou got it,” he said.
Asked if he really believed he hasn’t played well, Iguodala said, “Nah, it’s been terrible. The team’s been playing really well. I had a stretch ( after the All- Star game) where I was OK. It was like 2- 3 weeks. I’m trying to get back to that.”
Kerr, not surprisingly, had a different take on Iguodala’s contributions.
“Andre has been fantastic all year,” Kerr said. “He’s had a couple spells offensively where his shot didn’t go down. But I don’t value him based on his shotmaking. I value him on his incredible defense, his intelligence, his playmaking.”
The Warriors lead 2- 0 n for just the sixth time in 33 playoff series since moving West for the 1962- 63 season, and for the first time since 1988- 89, when they swept Utah 3- 0 in the first round.
The Warriors hadn’t gone up 2- 0 at home since 1966- 67 against the St. Louis Hawks in the Western Conference finals. Rick Barry scored 47 points in a 143- 136 Game 2 win that helped push the Warriors to a 4- 2 series win and a spot in the NBA finals, where they lost 4- 2 to Philadelphia.
David Lee sat out n again with a sore back, but Kerr expects him to play in this series. “His back’s getting better. We’ll reassess before Game 3.”