The Thunder did what they do best.
They swarmed the Lakers. They dizzied them. They slowly unraveled them with an unparalleled level of physicality.
But the Lakers felt as though they weren’t just facing the defending champions in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series on Thursday. They felt as though they had another adversary on the court.
After theLakers’ 125-107 loss to the Thunder, frustrations spilled over.
JJ Redick sarcastically reiterated that the Thunder are “the most disruptive team without fouling.” LeBron James gave one-sentence responses when asked about the officiating while staring straight ahead. Austin Reaves opened up about feeling “disrespected.”
But the Lakers can’t blame the referees.
They’re down 2-0. They’ve lost both games by 18 points. They’ve averaged 19.5 turnovers this series.
The Lakers need to look in the mirror before pointing the finger. They need to figure out a way to stop the Thunder from blowing open games. They need to protect the ball. They need to make their 3-pointers.
The Thunder are stunningly aggressive. They’ve mastered gamesmanship.
Reigning NBA champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got the nickname “Foul Merchant” for a reason. The Lakers knew what they were getting into with this series.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
