Technically speaking, the second-round playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder is far from over. Most NBA fans, however, are convinced the next two games are irrelevant.
Oklahoma City grabbed a commanding 2-0 series lead on Thursday night by picking up a 125-107 win over Los Angeles. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell combined for 64 points. The bench, meanwhile, was anchored by Jared McCain's 18 points.
Although the Thunder only attempted five more free throws than the Lakers, fans thought the officiating was once again one-sided.
In fact, some fans are accusing Adam Silver and the NBA of rigging the Western Conference semifinals.
© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images.
"The Thunder are really bad for the NBA. Unsure what deals are being made with them and the officiating but it’s not a good look," one fan said.
"Every team that plays the OKC has this same complain, it’s unprecedented," a second fan wrote. "Yet the NBA (Adams Silver) continues to play ostrich. Strange."
"The amount of opponents that have criticized the refs, specifically against OKC, is alarming," another fan commented. "Adam Silver just sitting back with his hands in his pocket like Darvin Ham."
"I’ve never seen a more rigged NBA series in my life," a social media user declared. "I’ve been watching the NBA for 20 years."
JJ Redick calls out the NBA's officiating.
After the Lakers dropped Game 2 against the Thunder, head coach JJ Redick criticized the way the league officiates the defending champions.
"I sarcastically said the other day, they're the most disruptive team without fouling," Redick said, via ESPN. "I mean, they have a few guys that foul on every possession. ... They're hard enough to play. They're hard enough to play, you've got to be able to just call them if they foul, and they do foul."
Redick also ripped the NBA for not calling more fouls in favor of his star player.
"LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I've ever seen," Redick continued. "I mean, I've been with him two years now. The smaller guys, because they can be theatric, they typically draw more fouls, and the bigger players that are built like LeBron, it's hard for them. He gets clobbered. He got clobbered again tonight a bunch."
It'll be interesting to see if the Lakers receive a more favorable whistle when this series shifts over to Los Angeles for Game 3.
