RealGM

Lots of chatter about Shai's whistle in game one. Here they are.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=15&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Gobert%20S.FOUL%20(P1.T1)%20(J.Capers)

Gobert bites on a pump fake and lands in to Shai's actual shot. 2 free throws.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=35&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Conley%20P.FOUL%20(P1.T3)%20(M.Lindsay)

Conley reaches for the ball and misses. When pulling his hand back he grabs and holds the off-wrist on the drive. This is uncalled. Then he reaches in a second time and makes contact with the ball, causing Shai to juggle it, but not effecting a steal. Shai turns his body to protect the ball and Conley ends up with his arms pretty much wrapped around Shai. Not the easiest thing to see because McDaniels gets in the way of the camera as it is happening. Side out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=55&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P1.T4)%20(T.Ford)

McDaniels does a funny hop step to get in to position. Shai drives on McDaniels. McDaniels maintains good guarding position but puts his hand on the top of Shai's back and presses just enough to impede his progress. He quickly removes his hand and wraps it around Shai's middle back but this contact seems to be inconsequential. Overall Shai's progress wasn't impeded all that much, and while technically a foul this feels like a very generous whistle for Shai considering it is the playoffs. Ant lazily tosses the ball towards Shai who is on the ground and gets a soft technical. 3 free throws.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=63&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Randle%20S.FOUL%20(P1.PN)%20(J.Capers)

Randle sticks his arm out as Shai is driving on him, so Shai rises in to a shot and Randle's arm makes contact. Bad discipline by Randle, giving an easily avoidable foul. 2 free throws.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=340&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20P.FOUL%20(P2.T2)%20(M.Lindsay)

McDaniels makes hip to hip contact and bumps Shai out of bounds. Side out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=342&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Edwards%20P.FOUL%20(P2.PN)%20(M.Lindsay)

This is the inbound from the previous McDaniels foul. At the start of this clip Shai is on the ground and Ant is standing over him. Don't really have any issue with this, but if it had spiraled in to something that the refs reviewed Ant would have been putting himself at risk of a second tech by standing and lingering over the top of the grounded player. The crowd is already reacting because they think Ant ran over the top of Shai to put him on the ground in the first place. What actually happened is Shai tripped on McDaniels foot (McDaniels was trying to shoulder check him with a leaning screen, but the foot Shai tripped on wasn't moving). Ant ends up running in to the back of an already falling Shai. The actual foul called is a very dumb one by Ant who two hand shoves Shai right in front of the ref for no reason???? 2 free throws because of the bonus.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=386&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Edwards%20L.B.FOUL%20(P3.T1)%20(T.Ford)

Hartenstein gets the steal on Ant. Hartenstein gets ball/hand first but by the time the ball is dislodged he is on Ant's wrist, so probably should be a foul on Hartenstein. Not the easiest call to make though because the first contact looked clean. Shai gets to the ball before Ant who happens to knock Shai to the ground and land on top of him while going after the ball. No ill intent. Side out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=412&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P4.T3)%20(T.Ford)

Shai drives on McDaniels. Shai stops on a dime to go for a stepback. McDaniels tries to stop and puts his foot in the wrong place (Behind Shai's heel). Shai does the step back inevitably getting caught on McDaniels misplaced foot. Shai gets the continuation. And 1. Clearly a foul, but bad luck McDaniels.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=470&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=DiVincenzo%20P.FOUL%20(P2.T4)%20(J.Capers)

Wrap around foul on Donte. Side out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=485&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Instant%20Replay3rd%20Period%20(10%3A27%20PM%20EST)

Shai drives between two defenders and loses balance of his own accord. Refs make a clear wrong call that the Timberwolves challenge. It is overturned.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=509&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Edwards%20S.FOUL%20(P4.PN)%20(M.Lindsay)

Ant starts guarding Shai at the logo. Shai wrongfoots Ant with a fake, and takes the newly open driving lane. Ant tries to recover, but knocks Shai off his line as he is driving to the hoop. Shai can sense the contact coming and rises in to a shot. And 1.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=614&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P5.T2)%20(M.Lindsay)

Randle loses the ball. After a couple of passes in transition Shai ends up with the ball. Shai gets a half step ahead of McDaniels and is driving to the hoop. A beaten McDaniels runs in to the back of him, knocking him to the ground. Shai hits a circus shot on the way down. And 1.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=637&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P6.T3)%20(J.Capers)

McDaniels guarding Shai. Shai is putting the moves on him. Shai goes for the drive and McDaniels moves with him but then hesitates. McDaniels realizes he is beaten and grabs Shai's arm with both hands. Shai rises in to a shot. 2 free throws, and McDaniels fouls out.

I'm not a ref so for any actual refs we have here reading, correct me where I am wrong.

As usual, the defenders rather than the referees are to blame. Stop fouling and the opposition won't get FTs! Of course, there are occasional exceptions to that rule, but for the most part the people who get the most FTs are those who are fouled the most.

Thanks for doing the work.

The Wolves took 30 more threes and only 5 less ft's yet the whole narrative this morning is that SGA gets a favorable whistle. I'm not going to even go back and review all the fouls, I'm sure half of them were questionable but SGA is driving to the rim relentlessly and putting the onus on the refs to make the tough calls. Wolves offensive strategy last night was dog piss, they have no one to blame but themselves.

He clearly gets fouled, but he often embellishes and some of the fouls are definitely marginal

Roscoe Sheed wrote:He clearly gets fouled, but he often embellishes and some of the fouls are definitely marginal

He's not the first star to do this.

I didn't even think the flopping was especially bad yesterday. The Thunder as a whole were driving to the rim a ton.
He does have the skill to draw fouls because of his shifty playstyle but overall, i didn't find it egregious.

Jadoogar wrote:

Roscoe Sheed wrote:He clearly gets fouled, but he often embellishes and some of the fouls are definitely marginal

He's not the first star to do this.

I didn't even think the flopping was especially bad yesterday. The Thunder as a whole were driving to the rim a ton.
He does have the skill to draw fouls because of his shifty playstyle but overall, i didn't find it egregious.

Maybe not egregious, but not natural either. He accentuates the contact on most calls.

For some reason, the videos above are unavailable when I click on them, so I can't specify which calls- but I remember 2 of them being quite marginal and would not have been called if he didn't exaggerate the impact of the contact

People see what they want to see. And believe what they want to believe.

...including the OP.

Look hard enough, and you can find a foul on EVERY NBA possession, nearly every drive, nearly every rebound, nearly every screen. And that's what gets people, including players and coaches, frustrated about the SGA whistle.

It's not a consistent whistle. It's inconsistent from player to player. Game to game. Play to play. And there are a few NBA players who know the grift better than others. Embiid knew it. Harden knew it. And SGA knows it.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:People see what they want to see. And believe what they want to believe.

...including the OP.

Look hard enough, and you can find a foul on EVERY NBA possession, nearly every drive, nearly every rebound, nearly every screen. And that's what gets people, including players and coaches, frustrated about the SGA whistle.

It's not a consistent whistle. It's inconsistent from player to player. Game to game. Play to play. And there are a few NBA players who know the grift better than others. Embiid knew it. Harden knew it. And SGA knows it.

The obvious response I came to write.

Roscoe Sheed wrote:

Jadoogar wrote:

Roscoe Sheed wrote:He clearly gets fouled, but he often embellishes and some of the fouls are definitely marginal

He's not the first star to do this.

I didn't even think the flopping was especially bad yesterday. The Thunder as a whole were driving to the rim a ton.
He does have the skill to draw fouls because of his shifty playstyle but overall, i didn't find it egregious.

Maybe not egregious, but not natural either. He accentuates the contact on most calls.

For some reason, the videos above are unavailable when I click on them, so I can't specify which calls- but I remember 2 of them being quite marginal and would not have been called if he didn't exaggerate the impact of the contact

And that was a factor in a 30 point loss? Wolves and their fans needs to man up AND SHUT UP for the next game. I doubt Okc plays so bad in the next one so prepare for a beating.

NBA not calling any travels any more yet giving these softest touch fouls feels so against the spirit of the game, it's annoying

We should do this every single game to defeat the false narrative

walk with me wrote:We should do this every single game to defeat the false narrative

The conversations surrounding these foul calls is just as boring as watching SGA shoot FT's all game.

walk with me wrote:We should do this every single game to defeat the false narrative

Yeah but the people shouting the loudest won't engage with this thread where the evidence exists.

What the hell is going on with all these SGA threads? Did LeBron adopt him as his son or something?

He drew several more fouls while you were creating this thread.

Overall Shai is just faster and smarter than the dudes defending him. Sometimes it happens so fast that it goes unnoticed at full speed or it isn't obvious on the camera angle, but as soon as you slip up he's going to punish you. Skill diff.

I have become more sympathetic to the complaints though. The first 15-20 minutes wasn't a fun watch at all, and starting the game off with 6 FT's didn't help. Hopefully the officials will allow the game to flow a bit more in game 2/the rest of the series. The Wolves also have to flat out play smarter/better or it won't matter.

SGA is unwatchable for sure. There's a reason he's not the face of the league.

DrModesty wrote:Lots of chatter about Shai's whistle in game one. Here they are.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=15&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Gobert%20S.FOUL%20(P1.T1)%20(J.Capers)

Gobert bites on a pump fake and lands in to Shai's actual shot. 2 free throws.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=35&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Conley%20P.FOUL%20(P1.T3)%20(M.Lindsay)

Conley reaches for the ball and misses. When pulling his hand back he grabs and holds the off-wrist on the drive. This is uncalled. Then he reaches in a second time and makes contact with the ball, causing Shai to juggle it, but not effecting a steal. Shai turns his body to protect the ball and Conley ends up with his arms pretty much wrapped around Shai. Not the easiest thing to see because McDaniels gets in the way of the camera as it is happening. Side out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=55&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P1.T4)%20(T.Ford)

McDaniels does a funny hop step to get in to position. Shai drives on McDaniels. McDaniels maintains good guarding position but puts his hand on the top of Shai's back and presses just enough to impede his progress. He quickly removes his hand and wraps it around Shai's middle back but this contact seems to be inconsequential. Overall Shai's progress wasn't impeded all that much, and while technically a foul this feels like a very generous whistle for Shai considering it is the playoffs. Ant lazily tosses the ball towards Shai who is on the ground and gets a soft technical. 3 free throws.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=63&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Randle%20S.FOUL%20(P1.PN)%20(J.Capers)

Randle sticks his arm out as Shai is driving on him, so Shai rises in to a shot and Randle's arm makes contact. Bad discipline by Randle, giving an easily avoidable foul. 2 free throws.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=340&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20P.FOUL%20(P2.T2)%20(M.Lindsay)

McDaniels makes hip to hip contact and bumps Shai out of bounds. Side out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=342&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Edwards%20P.FOUL%20(P2.PN)%20(M.Lindsay)

This is the inbound from the previous McDaniels foul. At the start of this clip Shai is on the ground and Ant is standing over him. Don't really have any issue with this, but if it had spiraled in to something that the refs reviewed Ant would have been putting himself at risk of a second tech by standing and lingering over the top of the grounded player. The crowd is already reacting because they think Ant ran over the top of Shai to put him on the ground in the first place. What actually happened is Shai tripped on McDaniels foot (McDaniels was trying to shoulder check him with a leaning screen, but the foot Shai tripped on wasn't moving). Ant ends up running in to the back of an already falling Shai. The actual foul called is a very dumb one by Ant who two hand shoves Shai right in front of the ref for no reason???? 2 free throws because of the bonus.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=386&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Edwards%20L.B.FOUL%20(P3.T1)%20(T.Ford)

Hartenstein gets the steal on Ant. Hartenstein gets ball/hand first but by the time the ball is dislodged he is on Ant's wrist, so probably should be a foul on Hartenstein. Not the easiest call to make though because the first contact looked clean. Shai gets to the ball before Ant who happens to knock Shai to the ground and land on top of him while going after the ball. No ill intent. Side out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=412&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P4.T3)%20(T.Ford)

Shai drives on McDaniels. Shai stops on a dime to go for a stepback. McDaniels tries to stop and puts his foot in the wrong place (Behind Shai's heel). Shai does the step back inevitably getting caught on McDaniels misplaced foot. Shai gets the continuation. And 1. Clearly a foul, but bad luck McDaniels.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=470&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=DiVincenzo%20P.FOUL%20(P2.T4)%20(J.Capers)

Wrap around foul on Donte. Side out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=485&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Instant%20Replay3rd%20Period%20(10%3A27%20PM%20EST)

Shai drives between two defenders and loses balance of his own accord. Refs make a clear wrong call that the Timberwolves challenge. It is overturned.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=509&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Edwards%20S.FOUL%20(P4.PN)%20(M.Lindsay)

Ant starts guarding Shai at the logo. Shai wrongfoots Ant with a fake, and takes the newly open driving lane. Ant tries to recover, but knocks Shai off his line as he is driving to the hoop. Shai can sense the contact coming and rises in to a shot. And 1.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=614&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P5.T2)%20(M.Lindsay)

Randle loses the ball. After a couple of passes in transition Shai ends up with the ball. Shai gets a half step ahead of McDaniels and is driving to the hoop. A beaten McDaniels runs in to the back of him, knocking him to the ground. Shai hits a circus shot on the way down. And 1.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=637&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P6.T3)%20(J.Capers)

McDaniels guarding Shai. Shai is putting the moves on him. Shai goes for the drive and McDaniels moves with him but then hesitates. McDaniels realizes he is beaten and grabs Shai's arm with both hands. Shai rises in to a shot. 2 free throws, and McDaniels fouls out.

I'm not a ref so for any actual refs we have here reading, correct me where I am wrong.

Half of those are marginal contacts for other players. If i didnt have life and could clip thunder games vs Nuggets and this one today, i could find 10 fouls per game at least that are worse then those contacts and are not called on okc players.

Mrakar wrote:

DrModesty wrote:Lots of chatter about Shai's whistle in game one. Here they are.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=15&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Gobert%20S.FOUL%20(P1.T1)%20(J.Capers)

Gobert bites on a pump fake and lands in to Shai's actual shot. 2 free throws.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=35&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Conley%20P.FOUL%20(P1.T3)%20(M.Lindsay)

Conley reaches for the ball and misses. When pulling his hand back he grabs and holds the off-wrist on the drive. This is uncalled. Then he reaches in a second time and makes contact with the ball, causing Shai to juggle it, but not effecting a steal. Shai turns his body to protect the ball and Conley ends up with his arms pretty much wrapped around Shai. Not the easiest thing to see because McDaniels gets in the way of the camera as it is happening. Side out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=55&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P1.T4)%20(T.Ford)

McDaniels does a funny hop step to get in to position. Shai drives on McDaniels. McDaniels maintains good guarding position but puts his hand on the top of Shai's back and presses just enough to impede his progress. He quickly removes his hand and wraps it around Shai's middle back but this contact seems to be inconsequential. Overall Shai's progress wasn't impeded all that much, and while technically a foul this feels like a very generous whistle for Shai considering it is the playoffs. Ant lazily tosses the ball towards Shai who is on the ground and gets a soft technical. 3 free throws.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=63&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Randle%20S.FOUL%20(P1.PN)%20(J.Capers)

Randle sticks his arm out as Shai is driving on him, so Shai rises in to a shot and Randle's arm makes contact. Bad discipline by Randle, giving an easily avoidable foul. 2 free throws.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=340&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20P.FOUL%20(P2.T2)%20(M.Lindsay)

McDaniels makes hip to hip contact and bumps Shai out of bounds. Side out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=342&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Edwards%20P.FOUL%20(P2.PN)%20(M.Lindsay)

This is the inbound from the previous McDaniels foul. At the start of this clip Shai is on the ground and Ant is standing over him. Don't really have any issue with this, but if it had spiraled in to something that the refs reviewed Ant would have been putting himself at risk of a second tech by standing and lingering over the top of the grounded player. The crowd is already reacting because they think Ant ran over the top of Shai to put him on the ground in the first place. What actually happened is Shai tripped on McDaniels foot (McDaniels was trying to shoulder check him with a leaning screen, but the foot Shai tripped on wasn't moving). Ant ends up running in to the back of an already falling Shai. The actual foul called is a very dumb one by Ant who two hand shoves Shai right in front of the ref for no reason???? 2 free throws because of the bonus.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=386&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Edwards%20L.B.FOUL%20(P3.T1)%20(T.Ford)

Hartenstein gets the steal on Ant. Hartenstein gets ball/hand first but by the time the ball is dislodged he is on Ant's wrist, so probably should be a foul on Hartenstein. Not the easiest call to make though because the first contact looked clean. Shai gets to the ball before Ant who happens to knock Shai to the ground and land on top of him while going after the ball. No ill intent. Side out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=412&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P4.T3)%20(T.Ford)

Shai drives on McDaniels. Shai stops on a dime to go for a stepback. McDaniels tries to stop and puts his foot in the wrong place (Behind Shai's heel). Shai does the step back inevitably getting caught on McDaniels misplaced foot. Shai gets the continuation. And 1. Clearly a foul, but bad luck McDaniels.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=470&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=DiVincenzo%20P.FOUL%20(P2.T4)%20(J.Capers)

Wrap around foul on Donte. Side out.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=485&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Instant%20Replay3rd%20Period%20(10%3A27%20PM%20EST)

Shai drives between two defenders and loses balance of his own accord. Refs make a clear wrong call that the Timberwolves challenge. It is overturned.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=509&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=Edwards%20S.FOUL%20(P4.PN)%20(M.Lindsay)

Ant starts guarding Shai at the logo. Shai wrongfoots Ant with a fake, and takes the newly open driving lane. Ant tries to recover, but knocks Shai off his line as he is driving to the hoop. Shai can sense the contact coming and rises in to a shot. And 1.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=614&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P5.T2)%20(M.Lindsay)

Randle loses the ball. After a couple of passes in transition Shai ends up with the ball. Shai gets a half step ahead of McDaniels and is driving to the hoop. A beaten McDaniels runs in to the back of him, knocking him to the ground. Shai hits a circus shot on the way down. And 1.

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=637&GameID=0042400311&Season=2024-25&flag=1&title=McDaniels%20S.FOUL%20(P6.T3)%20(J.Capers)

McDaniels guarding Shai. Shai is putting the moves on him. Shai goes for the drive and McDaniels moves with him but then hesitates. McDaniels realizes he is beaten and grabs Shai's arm with both hands. Shai rises in to a shot. 2 free throws, and McDaniels fouls out.

I'm not a ref so for any actual refs we have here reading, correct me where I am wrong.

Half of those are marginal contacts for other players. If i didnt have life and could clip thunder games vs Nuggets and this one today, i could find 10 fouls per game at least that are worse then those contacts and are not called on okc players.

This is the problem. Dort would foul out in the first half if he had to guard SGA.

The media is freaking out about having small market teams in the western conference finals, so they had Burke try to drive some social media crap with that free throw merchant comment. Fans would not complain about fouls if the announcers don’t drive that narrative.