Tristan Thompson walks off after being asked in he feels “helpless” guarding Klay Thompson: “That’s f—-ed up” pic.twitter.com/dRsCQj5Mch
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 4, 2018
OAKLAND – Tristan Thompson’s had a rough go of it recently.
His Cleveland Cavaliers fell to the Golden State Warriors 122-103 Sunday evening, and will take a 0-2 series deficit back home with them. Thompson played well enough, collecting 11 points and five boards, but had trouble stepping out and guarding the likes of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
After the game, a reporter asked Thompson if he feels helpless at times guarding the Warriors guards. He didn’t appreciate the question, and abruptly ended his interview.
Cleveland as a whole had a tough time guarding the Warriors guards Sunday night. Stephen Curry set an NBA finals record of nine made 3-pointers (on another NBA Finals record of 17 attempted long-range shots), and Klay Thompson scored an efficient 20 points after a Game 1 injury that had him listed as questionable at the start of the night.
The question about guarding the Warriors wasn’t the only one that Thompson appeared to not like. He was also asked about the series’ officiating, and gave a strong answer to the question.
“I’m over the referee s***,” Thompson said. “Just go out and play. Miss or make, you think you got fouled, you think it was a travel, we gotta get back on defense and communicate. That’s what Golden State wants. They want you to hang back, complain to the refs. Because they’re going to come down and knock a three in your face.
“We can’t be worried about that.”
Tristan Thompson: “Im over the referee s—-t” pic.twitter.com/Yjw1MzYG5X
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 4, 2018
The refereeing surrounding Game 1 was a talking point leading into Game 2, with many fans complaining that Golden State was getting an unfair amount of calls.
In that game, referees called 18 fouls on the Warriors and 18 fouls on the Cavaliers. During Game 2, referees called 15 personal fouls against the Cavaliers and 25 against the Warriors.