Draymond on SGA's Foul-Baiting And Flopping
“Shai, you've reached a new level of greatness my man... you got sports media coming out and talking about what they don't like about your greatness, as if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is running up and down the court with the whistle in his mouth calling a foul for himself... you all think the NBA is that easy to where this guy just flops and goes to the free throw line and he becomes the back to back MVP? We really gonna dumb the NBA down to that?”
Team chemistry over everything.
From the signature postgame interview huddles to celebrating each other’s success, the Thunder embody a family atmosphere on and off the court 🐶🤝
Spurs/Thunder might be the most interesting chess match between two coaching staffs in NBA history.
The constant battle between the Spurs trying to keep Wemby at the basket, and the Thunder adjusting their spacing in each game to get him out.
The Spurs trying to keep Shai away from the middle of the floor and out of the paint completely, while the Thunder change screening angles, floor alignments, etc. to get him space to operate.
Then in Game 4, the Spurs going away from doubles, and the Thunder finding a way to consistently force 2 on the ball in Game 5.
On the other side, the Spurs trying to get Wemby free in the paint on offense, and the Thunder doing everything in their power to push him to the perimeter.
Every game of this series has looked completely different. It’s been a masterclass for anyone who cares about more than “falling” and ref discourse.
Watch the defenders feet on every single shot, their feet move under him and Shai has to fall to avoid tearing his knees and ankles from landing on them
Truly sad that this is what is called “flopping” now. It’s flagrant fouls
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.
Big congrats to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on going back-to-back MVP. 🇨🇦🏆
For every young hooper in Canada who was told they were too far away, too overlooked, or not part of the “main stream”. Shai is proof that the work still travels.
#SGA#MVP#NBA#CanadaBasketball
Breaking: Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award, becoming the 14th player in league history to win back-to-back MVPs, multiple sources tell ESPN.
Mute the gallery.
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