The "foul every possession because they can't call them all" scheme

ScrantonBulls · Post #1 » by **ScrantonBulls** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:07 am

This is what it feels like OKC's plan is. Somebody else made this comparison and it is perfect. It is like the Seahawks a decade ago. Commit pass interference on every play, because they won't be calling all of them. OKC is manhandling everybody out there. Very physical hand checking, CONSTANTLY. Poor TJ McConnell is getting beaten up out there and they don't call a damn thing.

Why wouldn't you employ this technique going forward? The league is going to let it go obviously.

Infinite Llamas · Post #2 » by **Infinite Llamas** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:14 am

Because the league will have their favorites.

This year, OKC gets away with it but maybe they aren’t the darlings of the league office next year. The league can control any narrative they want.

MartyConlonOnTheRun · Post #3 » by **MartyConlonOnTheRun** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:17 am

ScrantonBulls wrote:This is what it feels like OKC's plan is. Somebody else made this comparison and it is perfect. It is like the Seahawks a decade ago. Commit pass interference on every play, because they won't be calling all of them. OKC is manhandling everybody out there. Very physical hand checking, CONSTANTLY. Poor TJ McConnell is getting beaten up out there and they don't call a damn thing.

Why wouldn't you employ this technique going forward? The league is going to let it go obviously.

It's hard to tell when the league is going to be ok with it. They had no problem fouling Giannis out early in his career, but Draymond could murder a guy and they won't call a sixth. Granted there is some skill where Giannis isn't smooth enough to hide it, whereas Draymond is sneaky to make a clear foul a 50/50 call

Post #4 » by **dockingsched** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:21 am

Need guys that have built that reputation up over years, can’t just flip a switch.

When they added Caruso along with Dort, they got two guys that refs were already very comfortable allowing a high amount of physicality so it just snowballs from there.

hugepatsfan · Post #5 » by **hugepatsfan** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:22 am

Yeah it’s pretty tough to watch. Obviously this is simplistic and it’s not like they aren’t amazingly talented on that end so it shouldn’t be dismissed and boiled down to this. But this is obviously a part of their strategy and it’s miserable to watch as a fan. Speaking for myself personally, Hopefully they run into payroll issues and miss on a bunch of pics because if they become a dynasty it’ll probably kill a lot of my interest in the sport.

Post #6 » by **zimpy27** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:23 am

I do agree with this scheme.

I think there is a point where refs care about foul differential. So you may as well be the aggressor.

GrandTheftRondo · Post #7 » by **GrandTheftRondo** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:23 am

It absolutely is their strategy and it’s infuriating.

They’re obviously a very good team but it’s maddening watching them defend like they’re playing NFL and getting away with it while on the other end they get heaps of soft whistles

Lu Dort is an absolute piece of **** with his antics

tsamo · Post #8 » by **tsamo** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:49 am

I know this is not a new thing.
A lot of teams have been using it and getting away with it over the years but I cannot lie, even as a Bucks fan with no love lost for the Pacers, it feels kinda undeserved to win a game (a game 7 even) with it.

Mk0 · Post #9 » by **Mk0** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:51 am

dockingsched wrote:Need guys that have built that reputation up over years, can’t just flip a switch.

When they added Caruso along with Dort, they got two guys that refs were already very comfortable allowing a high amount of physicality so it just snowballs from there.

It is kinda like Boston bringing in KG and then all of the sudden Kendrick Perkins is allowed to set moving screens. Guys get things just grandfather'ed into their games like that.

In this case it is Cason Wallace being able to hold TJ's wrist for 4 straight seconds in front of a ref and the ref straight up dgaf.

ORLMagicGirl15 · Post #10 » by **ORLMagicGirl15** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:54 am

Until they get better refs this is what teams have to deal with.

Mephariel · Post #11 » by **Mephariel** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:54 am

Damn, there do all these crybabies come from?

BigDan245 · Post #12 » by **BigDan245** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:56 am

lol in football offensive linemen hold all the time too...NHL it's just guys getting mugged all game.

Sidthekid87 · Post #13 » by **Sidthekid87** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:56 am

Mephariel wrote:Damn, there do all these crybabies come from?

Honestly, seen it all season, it was tiring. After that game 7 against Denver where the NBA let Caruso foul jokic every single possession and everyone in NBA media just called it amazing defence, that was my final straw.

Castle Black · Post #14 » by **Castle Black** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:57 am

Yup. Honestly it’s kind of brilliant because it works. It’s absolute garbage to watch and clearly unfair in favor of OKC, but if the officials are going to allow them to play football out there and foul the crap out of guys every position, why would they stop when it’s so effective..? It’s smart.

ball_takes23 · Post #15 » by **ball_takes23** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:57 am

It takes a really young, deep, high energy squad to play a style like this which not many teams have. Lakers were able to successfully pull this off for a few weeks they were the #1 defense in the league but then they got tired and fell apart.

Chuck Everett · Post #16 » by **Chuck Everett** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:58 am

Well, you still need the personnel to do it. Caruso was an elite defender before he arrived in OKC.

Petergrifindor · Post #17 » by **Petergrifindor** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:58 am

Yeah, that's why I can't stand OKC.

And it didn't start this year.

Mephariel · Post #18 » by **Mephariel** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:59 am

Sidthekid87 wrote:
Mephariel wrote:Damn, there do all these crybabies come from?

Honestly, seen it all season, it was tiring. After that game 7 against Denver where the NBA let Caruso foul jokic every single possession and everyone in NBA media just called it amazing defence, that was my final straw.

Sounds like sour grapes. Caruso foul every possession. He sucked against Jokic. Even Jokic himself disagrees with you.

TheGOATRises007 · Post #19 » by **TheGOATRises007** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:59 am

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/G8d0Uzzdm0

garrick · Post #20 » by **garrick** » Mon Jun 23, 2025 2:59 am

MartyConlonOnTheRun wrote:
ScrantonBulls wrote:This is what it feels like OKC's plan is. Somebody else made this comparison and it is perfect. It is like the Seahawks a decade ago. Commit pass interference on every play, because they won't be calling all of them. OKC is manhandling everybody out there. Very physical hand checking, CONSTANTLY. Poor TJ McConnell is getting beaten up out there and they don't call a damn thing.

Why wouldn't you employ this technique going forward? The league is going to let it go obviously.

It's hard to tell when the league is going to be ok with it. They had no problem fouling Giannis out early in his career, but Draymond could murder a guy and they won't call a sixth. Granted there is some skill where Giannis isn't smooth enough to hide it, whereas Draymond is sneaky to make a clear foul a 50/50 call

But Giannis then went on to get all the calls later on and he would just charge headlong into the paint and get any defenders in the way called for a blocking foul.

It really depends who the league really sees as the face of the league or which teams have reputations for hard nosed defense & "soft" teams get called for fouls way more because refs don't give them the benefit of the whistle.