Steve Kerr recently decided to sign Jimmy Butler to join the Warriors‘ roster. Since then, the NBA franchise has won almost every game of the season. However, in the game against the Blazers, the former Miami Heat player broke an NBA rule.
This is not the first time this has happened, as the Warriors have taken similar actions in the past. Kerr admitted that he encouraged Butler to do it, putting both the team and the player at risk.
Butler executed the move indicated by Steve Kerr
A few seconds before the final buzzer, the Warriors were 11 points ahead of their rival. The victory was already secured. Even so, Jimmy Butler broke one of the NBA’s unwritten rules. He took an uncontested jump shot. What he should have done in that situation was run down the clock with the team.
Even though it seemed like Butler’s decision, it was Steve Kerr who encouraged him to do it. The player simply waited for his coach’s approval and executed the move as soon as he got the green light.
Finally, Kerr acknowledged this, stating: “I told him, we don’t do shot clock violations, you know. So, if there’s a differential in the shot clock, we always take the shot. So, at the end of the game, he caught it, looked at me, and I said, ‘Shoot.’ He said, ‘Okay,’ and he shot it.”
“Some teams assume the turnover, I just don’t think you should ever take a turnover. And I don’t think anyone should be offended… if you take a shot when there’s time on the shot clock. If the shot clock is off, yes, then you run out the clock,” the coach added.
Butler’s shot Increased the Warriors’ lead
With Butler’s shot, the Warriors extended their lead to 13 points. Kerr added: “I was just clarifying with Jimmy that here we don’t take turnovers, we shoot. He said, ‘Okay. I got you.'”
This action upset some of Portland’s players, as they did not expect Butler to take the shot. As a response, Anfernee Simons hit a three-pointer. However, the Warriors were already ahead and secured the victory.
