Comment on NBA Playoffs: West Conf. Finals - May 22, 2026

botwolf_backup@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

• scytale@piefed.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Physicality and flopping aside, OKC’s deep bench is their biggest asset. No other team in the league can have their bench unit carry them and win the game for them. That’s why any team that plays them flames out in the second half while they continue to chug along. Even the Lakers played them well but only until the half, then OKC runs away with it in the second. Spurs aren’t as deep.

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• scytale@piefed.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  So now they’re calling arm grabs? Lmfao. It wasn’t even a full grab, JWill pushed Wemby and he tried to regain position.

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• RandAlThor@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Why are everyone’s panties getting twisted about grabbing and arm holding by the bigs for boards? Yes those are fouls but they ALL do it ALL THE TIME if you paid attention during games. Refs don’t always spot it or see it. It’s only because NBC is now making it an issue during the WCFs that people are crying about it against OKC. Spurs do it too, and so does everybody else. nothing to see here.

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  • scytale@piefed.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    To me it’s because they call it on an play where it wasn’t even a full arm grab, and a challenge on an out-of-bounds call of all the times it can be called. Meanwhile Wemby’s arm gets pulled down every time he goes for a block or rebound.

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• garretble@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Great win by the Thunder.

  They spotted the Spurs 15 points and then won by 15. The bench scored the most points ever for the Thunder.

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• RandAlThor@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  OKC has taken the lead because they’re trying to run the tired Spurs into the ground with a deep bench. What Spurs need to do is walk up the court every time. Slow the game down unless you have an obvious fast break opportunity.

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• RandAlThor@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  WOW I didn’t see this coming. Thought OKC was gonna get blown out.

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• scytale@piefed.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  I don’t know why Wemby ends up getting the ball at the 3pt line. They need to get him the ball in the paint.

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  • RandAlThor@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    Because he has guard skills and he can dribble past any big guarding him.

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    • scytale@piefed.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      Not really against OKC’s guard defenders. He’s vulnerable to getting the ball stolen because of how high his dribble is, and especially so against good defenders in OKC. It’s fine if he’s matched up against taller/bigger players like Gobert or Chet. In game 1, Wemby was unstoppable when they got him the ball while already in the paint.

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      • RandAlThor@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

        True. That’s how they won game 1 in 2nd OT. They should try that again.

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• scytale@piefed.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Champagnie wasn’t kidding in the pre-game interview when he was asked what they will do against the physicality, and he said “hit back”.

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• scytale@piefed.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Insane start by the Spurs! Now let’s hope they don’t let off the gas.

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