After two games of the Western Conference Finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his Oklahoma City Thunder are back with the momentum in their hands.
The defending champions needed to regain control of the series after Victor Wembanyama dominated Game 1. After that battle, many wondered if the Thunder had an answer ready for the Frenchman.
He was touted as being Michael Jordan-esque in that game, and analysts and fans felt that he would end OKC's run as a dynasty. Lo-and-behold, everything changed in Game 2.
The league's best team solved the Wembanyama equation, even though it was a tad bit controversial. Then, Gilgeous-Alexander regained his scoring touch. However, one analyst took exception to another form of touch that became the most important conversation in that game.
As a fan of the game, I just want to see the game respected. There are times when I watch OKC play, I don't feel like they respect the process of the game. It's too much foul baiting. When you fall down 95% of every shot you take in the 4th quarter, I get physiologically exhausted.
Jay Williams saidThe former second overall pick pointed out how the Oklahoma City Thunder as a team are phenomenal, and so is their leading superstar. But when he resorts to the flopping and foul-baiting that has sort of become a narrative around him, it puts off Jay Williams.
He agreed with his Get Up colleague's opinion that this was not 'ethical hoops.' As a basketball fan, that is not how the game has been and should be.
Jay Williams was ticked off by the number of times Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the floor or flopped to bait the officials into calling a foul on their opponents.
Yahoo Sports' Tom Haberstroh analyzed over 1000 shots of the now two-time league MVP, and other general foul baiting artists in the playoffs.
According to his research, the Canadian falls down 17.4% of the times he attempts a shot. That is almost as much as the next two tumblers managed to do in this postseason.
For a league that is trying to maintain the surge of interest in its sport, the NBA might have to take this seriously. In the past, Commissioner Adam Silver has tried to dismiss the allegations.
However, with every passing game, this has started to infuriate current and former players, analysts, and fans. If this gets out of hand, the league could undo all the hard work it undertook to renew interest after years of dwindling viewership numbers.
There is no doubt that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his Oklahoma City Thunder are becoming synonymous with flopping. But the extent to which it was allowed angered Max Kellerman.
Shai is flopping on every possession. It's ridiculous. Hartenstein and Chet are fouling Wemby all the time… Either the refs are very bad at their jobs, and they keep missing everything. I find that hard to believe… Everyone can see the flopping… Or the league is sending them messages… let certain things slide.
Max Kellerman said on the Game Over podcastThe former First Take analyst went to the extent of suggesting that the NBA is allowing this to happen for some ulterior motive. Or, it is the officials who are doing.
Either way, Kellerman did not think that the referees were calling Game 2 fairly. If they were allowing the Thunder to get away with some egregious acts, they should allow other players and teams to do the same throughout the playoffs.
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