For basketball fans, these playoffs have been fantastic at every single round which seems so rare.
But the Spurs are so lucky that SGA was such a public focal point. OKC “flops”, but the majority % wise was SGA and majority of those were hitting the floor as part of shooting motion. Undoubtedly, there were also plenty of non contact actual flops you see league wide (but I give higher numbers to Okc).
The Spurs have (smartly) engaged the entire playoffs in overly aggressive defense. Much like nfl football trenches (holding every play) and draymond green, they purposefully are fouling at all times. It’s a shift from the regular season, and they’ve put it all on the refs all playoffs. What are you going to do, foul out the whole team in first quarter?
Almost none of their offense or defense contacts are in natural motions. And, as it should be, they’re “letting them play” even more in the Finals.
It was obviously an intentional shift for playoffs, the organization dared referees to control the games. And refs have continually looked the other way. As an incredibly young team (emotional), they have an incredible amount of plays across the board that are dangerous and overtly intentional (how many times can an adult male athlete get a running start straight into someone’s back - huge injury possibility).
How many times can an intentional dangerous foul be reviewed and dismissed? The league not assessing a retroactive technical on Wemby for shoving a player to the floor by their head is unbelievable.
I don’t understand NYK continuing to play quietly and respectfully. They are lucky to not have lost players to injury. They desperately need some enforcers. I understand the unspoken code, but at this point I’m putting people in to get fouls, going constantly into Wembeys legs and throat.
(Castle is a stud 2 way, castle and Harper “legitimize” their defense)