The simmering rivalry between the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies boiled over once again Friday night, this time centered around a controversial officiating decision that left Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins fuming about the NBA’s unwritten “code.”
Controversial No-Call Sparks Debate
The flashpoint occurred midway through the third quarter of the Warriors’ hard-fought 123-118 victory. Draymond Green, the Warriors’ fiery forward known for his physical style of play, got tangled up with Grizzlies rookie sensation Zach Edey after losing control of the ball. Green fell to the court, his left elbow snagging Edey’s right foot and sending the 7-foot-4 center tumbling to the hardwood.
Edey managed to flick the ball ahead to a teammate to ignite a fast break, but he was clearly shaken up by the collision. Much to the Grizzlies’ dismay, the referees did not stop play to review the sequence for a potential foul on Green.
“Very disappointing,” a visibly agitated Jenkins said after the game. “We were about to start the break and [Edey’s] been playing really hard… and Draymond grabs his leg and pulls him down and it doesn’t get reviewed.”
“So I know there’s a code in this league, and I don’t understand how that wasn’t reviewed.”
Coach Taylor Jenkins
For his part, Edey didn’t mince words about the play. “It definitely wasn’t a basketball play,” the Grizzlies’ prized rookie said pointedly.
A Heated History
Jenkins’ reference to an NBA “code” carries extra weight given the recent history between these two Western Conference powers. During their contentious semifinal series last spring, Warriors coach Steve Kerr accused Memphis forward Dillon Brooks of breaking the code for a hard foul that left Gary Payton II with a fractured elbow.
Later in that same series, Grizzlies star Ja Morant went down with a knee injury that he insinuated was caused by Jordan Poole grabbing his knee – an accusation the Warriors vehemently denied. “Broke the code,” Morant tweeted cryptically about Poole before deleting the post.
Now it seems the Grizzlies are the ones claiming a breach of basketball ethics. The irony wasn’t lost on Draymond Green, who has built a reputation as one of the NBA’s most ruthless competitors.
“I didn’t even notice I did that,” Green said of his tangle with Edey, a wry smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “If it’s the code, it’s the code.”
Draymond Green
Calls for Consistency
Beyond just the Warriors and Grizzlies, Friday’s fracas shines a fresh spotlight on the ongoing debate about officiating consistency and player safety. With the intensity and physicality of play often ratcheting up in marquee matchups like this one, the pressure is on the referees to keep control without unduly impacting the outcome.
For the Grizzlies, who felt victimized by several questionable calls down the stretch as their furious fourth-quarter rally fell just short, it was a bitter pill to swallow. As veteran point guard Marcus Smart put it succinctly: “Gotta be consistent, that’s all we ask for.”
The league office will undoubtedly review the incident in the coming days, but any retroactive action will be of little consolation to the Grizzlies. They’ll have to regroup quickly for a high-stakes NBA Cup clash against the New York Knicks in just two days’ time.
A Rivalry Renewed
As for the Warriors and Grizzlies, this latest skirmish is sure to be just another chapter in a budding rivalry that seems destined to define the Western Conference for years to come. With both teams positioned as top championship contenders and stocked with dynamic young stars, fireworks are all but guaranteed whenever they collide.
“They’re a great team, we’re a great team,” Edey said. “It’s always going to be a battle when we face each other.”
The NBA’s ‘code’ may be unwritten, but it’s clear that the Warriors and Grizzlies will keep testing its limits – and each other – as they wrestle for Western supremacy. Basketball fans can only hope the referees are up to the challenge of maintaining order without tipping the scales. On this night, though, Taylor Jenkins and the Grizzlies are convinced the officials let them down when they were needed most.
