After Pelicans coach Monty Williams suggested that the crowd noise at Oracle Arena “may not be within the league rules,” he clarified his remarks yesterday, saying that he was hoping those initial remarks "would be taken tongue-and-cheek, but he takes full responsibility,” according to John Reid of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. After Williams’ comments “emerged into a firestorm, he issued an apology” to Warriors co-Owner Joe Lacob prior to yesterday’s Pelicans-Warriors opening-round playoff series Game 2. Williams said, “I no way meant to insult Mr. Lacob, who I have known over the last couple of years. ... They have passionate fans and I expect the same thing when we go back to our place.” Reid noted fans at Oracle Arena last night “weren’t buying his mea culpa,” as Williams was “greeted with resounding boos” from during pregame intros (NOLA.com, 4/20). In San Jose, Leung & Faraudo note fans at Oracle Arena were “as loud as usual” during the Game 2 of the first round series. Warriors coach Steve Kerr “seemed puzzled by the notion that the noise could reach illegal levels.” He said, “The NBA likes to control a lot of things, but I don’t think they can control how loud the fans yell” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 4/21).
HE SAID WHAT? In S.F., Scott Ostler writes it is “possible Williams really was trying to plant a seed of suspicion, but if so, it was a dubious strategy” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/21). ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said Williams sounded "like a two-year-old whining about the noise level." ESPN's Michael Wilbon added, "There's no fan base right now in the NBA like the Warriors' fan base" ("PTI," ESPN, 4/20). TNT’s Charles Barkley said Williams' original comments were “stupid.” Barkley: “You can’t say that and Monty Williams is a nice guy and a good coach. ... You don’t throw gasoline on a fire” (“Inside the NBA,” TNT, 4/20).
