2024 NBA Playoffs: West Semifinals: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #5 Dallas Mavericks (DAL WINS 4-2)

[SweaterBae]

Don't really care who wins this but the whole 'it's the playoffs' to justify the muggings that are happening is absolutely ridiculous.

Shouldn't "it's the playoffs" mean the exact opposite, that getting the calls right matters even more? It's straight up brainwashing.

[lessthanjake]

Wild to not call a foul on the last play of the half. Presumably they’ll see that and make a completely bogus call in OKC’s favor later to make up for it.

Anyways, OKC players are just playing scared IMO. None of them want to shoot open shots. They just constantly pump fake the open shot and then drive into multiple people and then pass out and have the team have to reset. There’s actually no point in SGA trying to create for anyone since they actually kill the advantage every time by being scared to shoot.

[SportsGuru08]

Has Luka always been this annoying?

Yes he’s the whiniest player in the league by far

Made even worse by the fact that he looks like some spoiled teenager when he does that.

[Patches Perry]

Rough whistle for OKC in the first half but have to keep playing and hope they even out. Either way they need to shoot a lot better or its over regardless. 35% won't cut it.

[MetalFingaz]

What a thread!

[SOUL]

Refs missed a foul at the end but that shouldn't dominate discussion, OKC has gotten 9 more free throws (and not saying they shouldn't have gotten 2-4 more), and have made one three.

[kacey ring]

OKC aren't really punishing any mismatches right now. The fact that they can put Lively, DJJ, or Kyrie on Chet and they can't punish with their bigs is an issue.

Mavs have used DJJ or Washington on Chet all season long. The Mavs big man takes Dort or sags off Giddey.

Thunder knew that matchup coming in. Thunder just don’t have any “bigs.”

[thelead]

Don't really care who wins this but the whole 'it's the playoffs' to justify the muggings that are happening is absolutely ridiculous.

"It's the playoffs"

If other teams know how to take advantage that this is a different game, then they'd have similar success to the Mavs, Nuggets and Celtics and the likes.

it's shouldn't be called different. The rules are the rules. Call the game the same way regardless if it's preseason, regular season, or postseason.

[zonedefense]

No consistency from the refs. First Dort gets to the line on a super soft bump. On the next possession Holmgren and Dort get smacked multiple times without a call.
If the refs call it like they did in the first 3-4 minutes of the 2nd quarter OKC shoots 15+ FTA in the quarter. In the bonus with seven minutes left in the quarter and all of a sudden the refs swallow the whistle. But on the other hand it's not like the Mavs are getting any calls. Dort has a Draymond-esque ability to get away with more contact than any other defender on the floor.

[JustBuzzin]

I have no idea why TNT hired Draymond. Dude doesn't belong on tv with those legends smh

[Astaluego]

I ask now that they aren't scoring much...could Lukai be the most talented backcourt in history?

[Rainwater]

Funny how some Thunder fans were saying Ant is closer to JDub than Shai lol

Some OKC fans also said both Jalen and Chet were better than Paolo, lol.

[Forbes]

Win each quarter that’s all we need

With a strategy like that, you guys will be unbeatable. Only if other teams thought of that

That’s how I grew up playing in AAU. Coach had us playing each quarter like it was separate games.

[SOUL]

Rough whistle for OKC in the first half but have to keep playing and hope they even out. Either way they need to shoot a lot better or its over regardless. 35% won't cut it.

If being called for 3 less fouls than Dallas and 9 more free throws is a rough whistle....

[durden_tyler]

Has Luka always been this annoying?

Yes he’s the whiniest player in the league by far

Made even worse by the fact that he looks like some spoiled teenager when he does that.

Yes he is but not still at the level of LeBron or KD hatred from fans so i guess most fans tolerate the whining. LOL

[RingoKid]

1 of 11 on 3's. Thats ugly!!!

[Mamba Mentality]

Presti needs to stop sitting on that warchest of picks and make a legitimate move this offseason. This current Thunder squad is gonna be dangerous, but probably two years out.

[sikma42]

Thunder did all the **** talking, all those silly interviews, all that barking like a dog…its was silly and ridiculous. Team was arrogant and were never really ready to compete. Disappointing outing for Williams and the whole team besides SGA.


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[vulture]

If OKC can’t convert in their transition opportunities this is a wrap

[durden_tyler]

Funny how some Thunder fans were saying Ant is closer to JDub than Shai lol

Some OKC fans also said both Jalen and Chet were better than Paolo, lol.

This is true, crowned them superstars too early. Like Banchero, they are good Star 1B players but will never be a superstar.