The Thunder’s dirty tricks beat Spurs in Game 2, but it didn’t look anything like basketball
SB Nation • • sports
Key Points:
- The Oklahoma City Thunder leveraged aggressive and physical defense, often bordering on dirty play, to secure a Game 2 victory over the San Antonio Spurs and even the Western Conference Finals series at 1-1.
- Isaiah Hartenstein, criticized after Game 1, played a crucial role in Game 2 by physically dominating Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, using tactics like grabbing, holding, and even pulling hair without being called for fouls.
- Wembanyama's performance was notably subdued in Game 2 compared to Game 1, as Hartenstein's physical defense limited his scoring and rebounding opportunities, despite several fouls going uncalled.
- While the Thunder are often accused of flopping on offense, their free throw rate suggests they are not excessively foul-hunting, though some instances of flopping were evident in Game 2.
- The Thunder's physical style, combining tough defense and occasional flopping, has made them a polarizing team among NBA fans, despite their impressive basketball and strategic rule gaming.