I am 100% behind Devin Booker here. Last night was not a good look for our league. Let me be clear, we didnโt lose because of officiating, but that doesnโt make last night any less important. If the referees are going to demand respect from the players - as they should - then the players should demand respect from the referees. When a referee is missing calls and clearly disrespecting the players, almost mocking them, they must be held accountable. Nobody who loves this game enjoyed watching that last night. They want to see the players compete at the highest level. The league needs be far more aggressive about this kind of thing. All players and all fans deserve it.
"Little frail. That's what the refs are going to call. I got to be smarter about it, but this is the playoffs, a man's game."
Dillon Brooks on defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
"When I used to watch this back when Michael Jordan was playing, or whoever else, when LeBron (James) was younger, it was physical basketball. I don't get why all the falling, the flopping and flailing and all this stuff is allowed when we get to the playoffs. Leave that for the season, for the fans. This is about who is the better team, who is the (smarter) team. Don't decide the games on free throws."
FTs: Thunder 20-of-25. Suns 18-of-22.
"Maybe I got to look back at it and see it they're really fouls, but all I know is when I'm watching or when I was out for the playoffs or I've been in the playoffs or I'd be watching from before I was in the NBA, it was straight physical. Straight low scoring, physical basketball and you got to score the basketball to win or get stops to win. Not this flailing and going to the line and stoppage of play. Like, got to fix that."
Brooks added the referees just give excuses when asked to explain a call. #Suns #ThunderUp
Devin Booker:
"I know I haven't won a championship in this league but I have been in it for 11 years now, so to get to this point to be treated like that, for me to even be saying something out loud it's bad.โ
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)
Devin Booker:
"It's definitely something that has to be looked intoโฆIn my 11 years, I haven't called a ref out by name, but James was terrible tonight, through and throughโฆโ
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)