OKC Thunder ends season on a high note and lights up social media

Basketball integrity:

The race for MVP still remains tight with Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden vying for the spot, and Paul George staying sneakily close behind. Tuesday night’s game has basketball fans questioning whether Harden’s basketball moral compass is worthy of another MVP title this season.

After the shenanigans throughout the shocking one-point victory, OKC fans may be #TeamGiannis if MVPG isn’t attainable. Social media had a lot to say last night about Harden’s, well… gripping performance. Even the mayor of Oklahoma City had to put his foot down.

There is a difference between doing all you can do to win a game and playing without integrity and respect for the sport. The best way I can explain James Harden versus OKC Tuesday is plain and simple exploitation. He baits, hooks, flops… he’s like a walking cheat code. And, it actually works.

I guess we could use the same logic as we use with Westbrook, “why not?” If it works, if it wins the ballgames, then why not?

I’ll tell you why not. It is so predictable. OKC exploited the exploiter on Tuesday as we witnessed multiple defenders guarding Harden literally with their hands behind their backs. Praise to OKC for using that to their advantage, holding Harden to only 5-15 from deep (even though he still ended with 39 points).

When his typical foul baiting didn’t work, Harden reverted to flopping and actual hooking of defender’s body parts. Twice he hooked an OKC player, resulting in ridiculous defensive fouls. As OKC Thunder adapted to Harden, they held him without a field goal in the fourth quarter. All of his points came from the free throw line.

I’m all for giving credit where it is due, 39 points in basically three quarters is pretty impressive. But… I’ll leave you with this question as the season comes to a close: are points and boisterous stat lines more relevant than the character of the player?