{"id":431424,"date":"2026-05-08T08:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T08:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/431424\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T08:34:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T08:34:11","slug":"shai-gilgeous-alexander-fires-back-at-lakers-criticisms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/431424\/","title":{"rendered":"Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Fires Back At Lakers’ Criticisms"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Oklahoma\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is being labeled a flopper again by media during the Lakers series. <\/p>\n

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> sent an honest statement for the critics of the OKC Thunder\u2019s physicality after the team dispatched the LA Lakers<\/a> in Game 2, 125-107, on Thursday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In his post-game press conference, Gilgeous-Alexander affirmed that the team that is more physical and imposes themselves to their opponents usually wins games, especially in the NBA<\/a> playoffs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way basketball works, usually the more physical team and the team that imposes their will more just wins,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s probably why we win tonight, probably why we won the last game. We did a good job, especially in the second half.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe played our style of basketball, playing physical, pressuring them, and making them uncomfortable,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way basketball works, usually the more physical team and the team that imposes their will more just wins.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 SGA on being the more physical team against the Lakers. <\/p>\n

This came after constant complaints about the officiating from the Lakers side during and after Game 2. The team even huddled up with NBA referees to voice out their frustrations about the game\u2019s officiating after the final buzzer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In Game 2, the Lakers were called with more fouls than the Thunder<\/a>, 26-21. The Thunder also got more free throws with 26, five more than the Lakers\u2019 21.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Thunder has been known since last year for their defensive intensity, often resulting in harsh physicality that draws the ire of opposing squads. In the Western Conference semifinals, Austin Reaves<\/a>, who had 31 points and shot the most free throws in the game with 10, and head coach JJ Redick spoke about the Thunder\u2019s physicality after the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gilgeous-Alexander was not particularly spectacular in Game 2. He barely played in the third quarter after picking up his fourth personal foul shortly after halftime. The Thunder then outscored the Lakers 36-22 in the third period to take control and never look back.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the Thunder remained undefeated in this year\u2019s playoffs with six straight wins, including a sweep of the Phoenix Suns<\/a> in the first round and a 2-0 start against the Lakers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

JJ Redick Says Thunder Have Players That Foul Every Possession\"JJ<\/p>\n

GettyLakers\u2019 JJ Redick sounds off on the Thunder.<\/p>\n

JJ Redick was fuming after the Lakers\u2019 Game 2 loss, expressing to the media his thoughts about the Thunder\u2019s physicality and how he felt about their defenders.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI sarcastically said the other day they were the most disruptive team without fouling,\u201d Redick said. \u201cI mean, they have a few guys that foul on every possession, and all the good defenses do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a stretch where four straight possessions, our guys got absolutely clobbered trying to make an entry pass to Jaxson, and Jaylin Williams<\/a> is grabbing his jersey with both arms.\u201d<\/p>\n

Redick then name-dropped SGA, pointing out that he had been benefitting from touch fouls throughout the series.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, SGA gets like a, I don\u2019t even know, a touch foul, I guess, on the drive,\u201d Redick said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

OKC\u2019s physicality certainly disrupted the Lakers\u2019 offensive executions, causing 21 turnovers, seven more than the Thunder committed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lakers Look To Steal One in Los Angeles\"\"<\/p>\n

GettyLakers look to finally solve the OKC puzzle in Game 3.<\/p>\n

It was a frustrating first two games for the Lakers, but they have a chance to finally secure one game in the series as they head to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4.<\/p>\n

If they beat the Thunder, they would be the first team to do so in the playoffs, and will tally their first win against OKC since last season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Game 3 will be on Saturday, May 9.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRob Andrew Lo<\/a> Rob Andrew Lo is a writer at Heavy Sports and is covering the NBA. He has covered local, collegiate, professional and international sports in various sites. He was the sports editor of The Varsitarian, the official student publication of University of Santo Tomas, and a sports, entertainment, and lifestyle writer for Rappler.
\n
\nA Journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas, he has built his voice across both collegiate and international platforms, previously contributing NBA coverage to Fansided and Sportskeeda.
\n More about Rob Andrew Lo<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is being labeled a flopper again by media during the Lakers series.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":431425,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[85,46,105],"class_list":["post-431424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=431424"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431424\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/431425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=431424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=431424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=431424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}