OKC was 2-1 vs the Spurs with JDub and/or Mitchell healthy.
The loss was in double overtime.
OKC was 1-3 vs the Spurs without JDub and Mitchell.
Having 2 of your top 5 players is important.
Richard Jefferson on the narrative of SGA is just a flopper, and why narratives are stupid because they don’t win championships:
“If you takeaway every free throw that Shai shoots and has shot, if you take away free throws from the game of basketball he is still top 2 or 3 in scoring. That’s how many buckets he gets, his efficiency and 50 plus for multiple years. So, the narrative is if I don’t like a player I can lead into a narrative. If I’m talking about opposing team, if I’m a Spurs fan I can push the narrative, if I’m a Denver fan I can push the narrative, if I’m a Minnesota fan I can push the narrative. It doesn’t matter. So, like that narrative can be driven without people trying to actually impose it.”
(Via @RoadTrippinShow)
Spurs and Thunder is a physical series (football game, rock fight, etc.) on both sides. When a neutral observer/national media/NBA Twitter claims OKC is dirty…it’s cherry picking for an agenda. For every iHart holding clip there’s a Wemby holding clip.
Gilbert Arenas on SGA back to back MVPs:
“I know the narrative, I don’t know if it’s a OKC thing. I don’t know if y’all like players in OKC. But you’re doing the same thing a little bit to what you did with Westbrook. You’re pretending what he’s doing is so, it’s just consistent. THE ONE THING YOU WANT FROM A PLAYER, CONSISTENCY. Like a guy who can guarantee me 30 every night. What are you talking about? The one person I don’t have to worry about on my team. Meaning, if I look at him, no matter what he looks like, sad, too happy, what? 30. He’s guaranteeing me 30 every night.”
(Via @NoChillGilZero)
“In NBA history, guards have averaged at least 30 points per game in a season while playing enough games to qualify for the scoring title on 48 occasions. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 9.0 free throws attempted per game this season ranks 32nd on that list.”
- @BannedMacMahon
NBA players flop all over the place, but now SGA is ruining the game? It’s not a shocking development. It happens to the best winners. My thing is this. If you got a problem with how he wins then stop him. SGA has worked his way into MVP form, bucket after bucket, & when you’re on top they have to knock you down. Whether it’s foul baiting or not, he’s the guy until someone does something about it.
@ThePivot clips on @youtube.
#ThePivot #SGA #NBAplayoffs #FoulBaiter