Thunder In the news: Warriors, Pachulia actions show OKC has them concerned

Fall out from round three between the OKC Thunder and Golden State Warriors occupies TI’s focus In the news.

In the news February 25, finds fans and scribes still abuzz over the game between the OKC Thunder and the Golden State Warriors.

Almost unilaterally the expectations were for the Warriors to take the third game. After all in the Steve Kerr tenure with the Warriors no opponent had ever won three games to take the season series. Then factor in the Dubs all stated the post All-Star break schedule would witness a refocus on defense, fewer turnovers and building toward another finals appearance.

On top of this, the Warriors had a vested interest to win the game over the Thunder. Following two thorough beatings at the hands of OKC there was ample motivation to make a statement. Although OKC won without Andre Roberson it wasn’t expected the Thunder could present the same issues a second time with a focused Warriors team. Therefore everyone expected a blowout win by the Dubs.

If you only looked at the box score that’s what you would assume happened. The reality of what happened isn’t quite as simple.

Technicals rain down:

Draymond Green and Kevin Durant have been two of the most penalized players in the Association this season as far as technical fouls.  Last night they both added another to their collection with Green picking up their 15th and Durant his 12th.

Green was lucky not to pick up a second later in the match. If he had it would have resulted in a one game suspension. Odd to think Green isn’t being more careful about collecting technicals. Afterall the Warriors lost to the Cavaliers two years ago with many feeling his suspension was the decided turning point in the series.

As for Kevin Durant, every game against the Thunder is going to foster some ill will.

Warriors actions speaks volumes:

Examining the actions of the Warriors however provides fodder that OKC does have the Warriors at least concerned about their ability.

Golden State began to play what we might call ‘bully ball’. Green’s primal scream into the stands after knocking down his opponent was meant to inspire the Oracle crowd and his team. But, his obvious shot to the head of Carmelo Anthony occurred on purpose. I’ve re-watched that play over ten times and Green meant to annoy Anthony by an intentional hit to the head.

Clearly Anthony was the target of the Warriors actions as the earlier tech handed out to Durant came on a play also between himself and Melo.

For those wondering why Carmelo took umbrage with the move – revisit Kelly Olynyk pulling Kevin Love’s arm out of the shoulder socket. That’s probably why Carmelo got annoyed, especially because it’s beneath someone of KD’s ilk to pull such a move.

Now let’s pause for a moment and reconsider these two actions. To that point in the game the only one of the triad who was producing was Carmelo. Westbrook and George were cold as ice. Yet, inexplicably the Thunder were tied or held the lead for a good portion of the game through to the middle of the third quarter.

Melo was the target:

Others may disagree with me on this viewpoint. But I believe the Warriors may be the most concerned with the Thunder of their main challengers. This because the Thunder’s three stars present a greater (more varied) challenge then a Kawhi Leonard-less Spurs team or a still young Clint Capela Rockets squad. Moreover, there isn’t a player on the Warriors capable of stopping Steven Adams through a seven game series.

So, Sam Presti and Billy Donovan – get on the horn and grab some additional reserve help at the shooting guard position because the potential for an amazing series between these two teams sounds good to me.

Zaza still a thug:

As much as I can explain the situation of why Durant and Green took potshots at Anthony to throw off his game the same can’t be said for Zaza Pachulia.

Let’s just take a moment to revisit Zaza the Thug’s history:

• Unnecessary roughness on Westbrook last season to throw the MVP to the ground
• Stands over top of Westbrook to taunt and send a message
• Commits roughshod play circa Detroit Pistons’ Bad Boys whenever his team is in need of sending a message
• In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals 2017, commits a dirty step under play on Kawhi Leonard rendering him lost for the series. Notably, the Spurs were winning the game at the moment of injury. And, though Leonard played nine games this season, the recent news he could be lost for the remainder of this campaign begs the question – did that one dirty play which affected Leonard’s ankle also have an affect higher up on Leonard’s leg in his quad area?

Fallout:

So, we cut to the egregious action by Pachulia last night when he falls on top of Westbrook. Another move which could have seriously hurt Westbrook.

1. This was NOT a basketball play
2. Zaza action was ENTIRELY INTENTIONAL
3. This demonstrates a continuing HABITUAL nature of UNBECOMING CONDUCT

Post game Westbrook (rightfully) let loose about the play calling out Pachulia. I’m all for playoff type basketball with hard plays. Revisit the Jordan era of basketball and imagine any of today’s players suffering some of that abuse and we can talk about ‘hard fouls’ or ‘flagrants’. But, we aren’t in that era and this now becomes a very critical situation for the NBA to deal with.

If the Warriors state all of the three instances above were innocent plays quite frankly they are selling you lies. But, I’ll play along and remind the Warriors there are several players on the Thunder who can return the favor.

Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Steven Adams were the object of the Warriors potshots and intentional nuisance actions. Those three players represent three of the top four OKC Thunder players.

So, let me ask Golden State faithful (and the league) this question…..

If this is acceptable behavior than the Warriors won’t mind if all their opponents commit the same actions on Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson (and or Draymond Green). Right?

I mean what’s good for the current MVP and top Thunder players should be good for your team’s MVP and top players right?

Unless Silver wants NBA 80s/90s he needs to deal with this now:

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Ahhhhhhhhhh — and that is where the rub is. Golden State would be up in arms if Patrick Patterson had pulled on Kevin Durant’s arm potentially injuring him, or Steven Adams had hit Klay in the head or perish the thought Nick Collison had purposely fallen on Steph Curry with the intent to injure.

But, this is where the game could be headed unless the NBA Front Office takes action from last night’s game. For as much as I enjoy tough nosed basketball, those were NOT basketball plays. They were plays made to send a message and in the one case with intent to harm.

If Adam Silver doesn’t want KD, Curry, LeBron and other superstars getting targeted by this type of ridiculously unnecessary nonsense they need to step up and fine Pachulia with a massive amount and send the message this will not be tolerated by the NBA.

The league has already lost the benefit of witnessing greatest this season without Kawhi Leonard. Do they also want to tempt fate by allowing some goon like Pachulia to get away with head hunting Westbrook?

That wraps up OKC Thunder In the news for Sunday February 25.  Enjoy the remainder of your weekend.