Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has expressed concern over the treatment Rudy Gobert received in the first game against the Golden State Warriors, where the Timberwolves lost 99-88.
Finch stated that the team sent clips to the league showing “flagrant” contact against Gobert, which was not called by the referees.
In defensive rebounds, they commit a lot of fouls, shoves and grab Rudy. That’s clear. We sent several of those clips to the league.
Chris Finch, Timberwolves coach
Minnesota was outrebounded, 51-41, with Gobert grabbing 11 rebounds, a significant decrease compared to the 24 he had in the last game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Finch mentioned a particular sequence where Gobert was called for a foul in the second quarter, despite the fact that Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski was the one who grabbed him first.
Certainly, we will try to do justice on our own whenever we can, but they should see some of these clips. They seem to be guards and linemen just attacking Rudy.
Chris Finch, Timberwolves coach
Minnesota received 21 fouls in the first game, compared to the Warriors’ 18.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr also plans to send his own complaints to the league.
After the game, Finch criticized Anthony Edwards for his lack of energy. The next day, Donte DiVincenzo said that “nobody was safe” during the video review, as the players took responsibility for their performance.
Jaden McDaniels was responsible for securing only four rebounds.
They were playing harder than us, more physical. They were pushing and those things, but if the referee doesn’t call it, it’s not a foul. We have to play through that, not worry about the referees and just play like it’s us against everyone.
Jaden McDaniels, Timberwolves player
