Golden State Warriors warm-ups stopped as two-inch drama sparks conspiracy theories

A bizarre drama ahead of game three of the NBA Finals has sparked online conspiracy theories in the first game of the series in Boston.

The rim was two inches off. Photo: Twitter and Getty Images

NBA fans are crying foul after the Golden State Warriors had to pause their shootaround as it was confirmed the goals they were using were two inches too high.

In the first game of the series inside Boston’s TD Garden with the series locked at 1-1, the Celtics claimed a big 116-110 win as the franchise looks to win its first title since 2007-08 and 18th overall.

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But there was drama before the game — one some fans believe may have hurt the Warriors before the first tip off — when the players and coaches realised the that height of the basket didn’t look right.

The rim of the basket is supposed to be 10-feet high — this basket was 10 feet, two inches.

The height was checked by a 10 foot pole and was quickly adjusted.

The Warriors complained that the rim looked too high and turns out it was 2 inches off pic.twitter.com/XK9paUppYJ

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 9, 2022

Warriors coach Steve Kerr laughed off the drama as there was still two hours before tip off.

“Players have a really sharp eye for that. Players can tell,” he said. “I imagine somebody went out there, looked at it, didn’t look right. So as long as they take care of it, then everything is good.

“It’s a good thing the game starts at midnight. We’ll have plenty of time to fix it.”

The last line was a dig at the NBA’s start times for the Finals, which tip off at 9pm ET.

But the drama sparked comparison’s to the Celtics’ golden period between the 1960s and 1980s when opponents used to accuse former team president and coach Red Auerbach of screwing with opposition teams, including turning off the hot water in the visitor’s showers.

Celtics Hall of Famer Bill Walton said he didn’t believe it was anything like that but did say: “I’m surprised Steve didn’t say anything about Red Auerbach.”

Despite the Warriors laughing it off, it didn’t stop the conspiracy theories starting.

United Press International sports content producer Connor Grott posted: “A Boston team cheating? Has this ever happened before???”

The pole doesn't lie. Photo: Twitter

After another fan pressed him on the issue, Grott replied: “So you’re saying that a two-inch error on the hoop, which they also use to warm up on, won’t have any impact …? What if Boston goes on a crazy run in the first half? What if they ask for the rim to be adjusted after finally ‘detecting it’ in the second half?

“Dude … Kobe detected a rim that was 1/4 of an inch off. Two inches is a MASSIVE difference to the point where it looks intentional.

“The damage likely already done, though. No telling how long they warmed up on the hoop before it was discovered. That’s enough to throw them off.”

Vox Media’s Anthony F. Irwin tweeted: “Weird things happening in Boston during the finals. A tradition unlike any other.”

Love it by the @celtics

Shenanigans ! https://t.co/WDBvGjWCwR

— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) June 8, 2022

Red is in the building tonight https://t.co/Dv6aEGWhaq

— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) June 8, 2022

Others pointed to the New England Patriots and Deflategate.

However, Celtics beat reporter Keith Smith wrote: “I find it hilarious that people believe the Celtics were going to make the Warriors shoot on a basket that was too high and then magically fix it, without anyone noticing, before Boston had to shoot on that hoop in the second half.

“Some of y’all live in Fantasyland, I swear.”

And for the record, the Celtics’ shootaround was also stopped as their baskets were checked.

Probably more worrying for the Warriors was an injury concern for sharpshooter Steph Curry.

Curry left the Warriors’ 116-100 loss to the Celtics with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter after being buried in a scrum of players tussling for a loose ball.

Steph Curry still dominated. Photo: Getty Images

The 34-year-old star grimaced in pain after the incident in which he appeared to hurt his foot.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he removed Curry from the game once it was clear Boston were assured of a victory which leaves the Celtics 2-1 up with four games remaining.

“The injury didn’t force him out of the game,” Kerr told reporters. “I took him out down 14 with two minutes left because we weren’t going to catch up. We’ll know more tomorrow.”

Curry, who once again led the Warriors scorers with 31 points, said the pain felt similar to the foot sprain he suffered in March.

However he said he is optimistic of recovering in time for game four on Friday.

“I’ll be all right,” Curry said. “Obviously in some pain, but I’ll be all right. See how it feels tomorrow and get ready for Friday.

“Hopefully it responds well over the next couple days.”

With AFP

Originally published as Golden State Warriors warm-ups stopped as two-inch drama sparks conspiracy theories