A story of match 1 of the Western Conference final was the capacity of Oklahoma City Thunder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to go to the Launarae francs.
The Thunder Guard reached the line 14 times, half of which came in the first quarter, with some attempts generated by doubtful calls. This frequency prompted the ESPN NBA analyst, Doris Burke, to say: “There is a reason why NBA Twitter likes to call it” the free throw merchant “” during the broadcast on Tuesday evening.
Two high -level NBA experts are also Stressing SGA’s propensity to make whistles. After match 1, former writer Espn NBA and new employee of Ringer Zach Lowe appeared on The Podcast Bill Simmons to give Its point of recovery of the game.
“If you are the minnesota,” he said, “the only thing you are going to get out of the game is” we have to make a better whistle on these SGA calls “.”
“I have the impression that Shai has a whistle that no one else in the playoffs gets obtained,” said Simmons. “These small touches or these bumps where you do not know who initiated the bumps and he gets it.”
The fact that Burke has mentioned SGA’s reputation on broadcasting, and now similar feelings arise among some of the most popular voices in sport, suggests that this could become an engine story in the series.
The NBA commission was at the forefront of media coverage this season. Throughout the playoffs, many have made fun of the league officials for having allowed too much physics, which partly explains why the perceived treatment of SGA is a meticulous examination.
But this is not a new story. The league MVPs have long been accused of having a favorable whistle.
Although the questionable calls on Tuesday can give a little credit to this point of view, SGA was in the first three in attempts at free throws per game for three consecutive seasons, long before it was MVP. He is clever to arrive at the line, complete.
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It is not the most fun for fans, but it is a reality of modern basketball. Going to the free throw line is a skill, and it is up to the defenders to adapt.
