The OKC Thunder were objectively the best defensive team in the entire association during the 2024-25 regular season.
From their elite stocks (steals and blocks) per-game average of 16.0 and opponent's average field goal percentage of 43.6 to boasting the best defensive rating by far at 106.6, such a take should by no means be seen as controversial.
However, nearly three weeks into this year's postseason, some have seemingly taken exception to how Oklahoma City operates on the less glamorous side of the ball, with current opponent Aaron Gordon of the Denver Nuggets going on record recently to label them as quite "handsy" and noted that, in his eyes, they've been making illegal contact that's gone uncalled by the refs.
During the waning hours leading into Game 3, Thunder big Chet Holmgren addressed these particular remarks in a media session at Friday's shootaround. Visibly confused by Gordon's claims, the 23-year-old bluntly decreed them to be rather baseless, saying:
"I feel like when we've fouled, we've been called for fouls. When they foul, they've been called for fouls... I feel like it's a physical game of basketball. That's what the playoffs is. We just have to be ready for that."
Thunder big's counter to 'handsy' defense claims are backed by facts
As alluded to by Holmgren, the postseason generally is a time when officiating crews tend to allow for more contact and physicality while simultaneously blowing fewer whistles.
In fact, the 2025 NBA Playoffs, in particular, have been regarded as one of the more physical runs in recent memory, with Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch even noting that, at least in his eyes, "it’s gone too far."
With this, it actually somewhat diminishes Gordon's "woe it's me" attitude about what he views as unfair no-calls at the expense of Denver. As evidence shows, this uptick in physicality is a league-wide phenomenon, not just one relating to the Nuggets.
However, even with the refs allowing for more contact, Denver is still the team that's being most favored by foul calls during the conference semifinals. Among all clubs still alive in the postseason, the Nuggets rank first in free throw attempts per game with 32.5.
From an individual standpoint, they also find three of their players ranking within the top 10 in charity stripe visits per game during this year's second round.
So while Gordon may be unenthusiastic about how the playoffs are being officiated, the extra physicality on the hardwood is by no means only coming at their expense.
Denver, the Thunder (who are the second-most frequent visitors to the free throw line, mind you), and, frankly, the rest of the association are enduring roughly the same type of treatment in round two.