BOSTON (AP) — The Golden State Warriors arrived at TD Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday and noticed the baskets they were warming up with were the wrong height.
After using a 10-foot (3.05-meter) measuring stick, it was confirmed that the baskets were a couple of inches (five centimeters) above regulation height and the adjustment was quickly made.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said during the pregame news session that he was not aware of the problem, but it was not uncommon.
“The players have a keen eye for that. The players know,” she indicated. “I imagine everyone came out and saw it and realized it didn’t look good. So as long as they can figure it out, everything is fine.”
Kerr later took the opportunity to lambaste the league for the late start time. All the meetings of the week began at 9 pm (0100 GMT) and on Sunday an hour before.
“It’s a good thing that games start at midnight,” Kerr told reporters who laughed. “We have enough time to fix it.”
The teams split the two games in San Francisco before the best-of-seven series moved to Boston, where the 17-time NBA champion Celtics have a history of success — and a few tricks.
Former Celtics coach, general manager and president Red Auerbach was repeatedly accused of everything from turning off the hot water in the visitors’ locker room at Boston Garden to putting spots on the court where the ball didn’t bounce properly.
Hall of Famer Bill Walton, a member of the 1986 championship team, said he didn’t think anything inappropriate had happened regarding the height of the baskets.
“I’m surprised Steve didn’t say anything about Red Auerbach,” he said.
