WCF Game 1, 5/20: Timberwolves @ OKC, 7:30 PM CST

[jpatrick]

Refs were definitely a major talking point after game 1. Not sure how much ESPN will note it, as they are a broadcast partner of the league. But several podcasts have discussed to various levels, including Bill Simmons and Nate Duncan.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

If i was a GM, the first thing i will do is to get Luka paired with SGA. Like this my team will got 50 FT per game and they don't even need to shoot for win ....

[GopherIt!]

Naz, Naw & Dante built exact replicas of the Grain Belt Brewery, Walker Art Center and Holy Rosary Church all in one night.

[winforlose]

Minnesota sucks, so I’m at peace with them losing last night, but SGA is legitimately one of the most shameful players I have ever watched play basketball. Joel Embiid levels of “You are too talented to be that pathetic with the foul baiting.”

True. But the worst part is Embiid, SGA, and the other superstar whistle players don’t follow the rules themselves. It is bad enough to allow them to get more calls based on less contact, but they actively commit offensive fouls consistently. The fourth foul on Jaden is the perfect example. SGA fully extends his off arm into McDaniels and pushes him with the momentum that SGA had acquired from running. Jaden stumbles backward and the feet get tangled. Extending one’s off arm to push off to gain distance, (SGA’s go to move,) would be called on NAW, or DDV, or any non star guard as a clear offensive foul. So not only can defensive players not play physical defense against the superstar whistle, but they are expected to play through being fouled themselves.

[winforlose]

The refs are a huge talking point. I don't like the whistle, but I think people are putting way too much emphasis on it and not giving OKC credit. Even national guys are talking about the refs. The truth is we fumbled the ball. I'm not saying the SGA antics didn't hurt us, too—they did—but a championship-caliber team will play through that.

Here is Wright also talking about the whistle for like 20 minutes

Watch on YouTube

;t=1296s

When you don't get the soft calls both ways it is an issue. It also alters how you play defense. We definitely can't play defense the same way OKC can because we will get called for those fouls they don't get called for.

This, plus OKC uses the space to score more easily. OKC was all over the Wolves to the point we abandoned going inside. They were holding us on rebounds, hacking us to force turnovers, and pushing us off on defense. The players might be able to play through if they can stay on the court, but Jaden got 4 early fouls, Ant got in foul trouble early in the 3rd, and Randle too I believe. The unearned fouls force more minutes for inferior players and force a poor defensive intensity. In a properly officiated game I don’t believe OKC scored 80 points and in think we win by 20.