From a banal intentional mistake at the end of the match to a serious scuffle. His Jazz led by one point with 10 seconds to play, Collin Sexton logically goes to commit the foul on DeMar DeRozan in front of the Bulls bench. There, without anyone understanding why, Torrey Craig, in civilian clothes, comes to say a few words to the leader opposite.
The tone rises, teammates on both sides move closer to the action and the start of a scrum is created. At the heart of it, John Collins and Bulls assistant Chris Fleming jostle each other. The second seems to want to push away the first, who will then gesture with his hand towards the technician's throat.
“ I rushed over, I'm standing there. The coach came over and pushed me for no reason. You can watch the images. And I protected myself. I was standing there, literally, and the guy put a forearm across my chest and pushed me back. Then I do not know. He needs a little more 'self-control'. But whatever. I don't know what to say about this. It was weird », Qualifies the Jazz player, quoted by The Athletic.
The two protagonists in question each received a technical foul, as did “ the instigator » events, Torrey Craig. Note that Andre Drummond, who came to the rescue and contributed to the melee with a fist gesture, was spared.
The Bulls could have paid dearly for it
For his part, Billy Donovan does not know how to explain the origin of the escalation. “ I think Torrey said something. They obviously came close. Chris Fleming, I think, was trying to hold everyone back to separate them. And then from there it escalated and I was trying to get everyone out. At that moment, I intervened to put some order into all this », Delivers the Bulls coach, whose training ended up winning.
Despite this happy outcome, he considers that he and his troop must be “ best in these situations », because Jordan Clarkson benefited from a free throw, before those from the back opposite, to equalize.
“ We didn't just lose a point on a technical foul. We also cooled down our free throw shooter. And I give DeMar credit for being mentally strong enough. I understand the emotion and the intensity of the matches. But at the same time, complaining, being upset or frustrated doesn't help. We must be able to do better than that at all levels. And I'm not just talking about the players. On the bench. Everyone “, demands Billy Donovan.
Author of 29 points in the match, with an impeccable 7/7 on the line, DeMar DeRozan said he had “ prayed » so that the Jazz do not obtain more free throws, resulting from the technical fouls of the altercation. “ Taking the advantage, the match changes due to a small scuffle… Anything could have happened “, summarizes the veteran, while John Collins does not lose his temper: “ A coach had never touched me like that. It was a first. A coach touching me is unacceptable. »
