Postgame 27: That Was A Foul?

Thunder Lose 103-97

Players of the Night

Oklahoma City- Kevin Durant (33 Pts, 7 Reb, 3 Ast)

Miami- Lebron James (29 Pts, 8 Reb, 9 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 Blk)

Box Score

(Credit: ABC)

Tonight was just one of those nights. 

As sports blogger/journalist, I have a duty to leave my emotions out of my work to a point and display a piece of work that is un-bias, again to a point. I know many people tonight are absolutely furious at the officiating, including myself, and I could spend all of this post speaking on the horrific officiating in this game. However, the Thunder left this game in the hands of the refs and when that happens, the outcome is usually not pretty. 

The Thunder are usually almost, or nearly, perfect from the line. However, Oklahoma City was less the perfect at the line and it was pivotal. The team, as a whole, missed 6 free throws. Six points was the margin of victory for the Heat. Westbrook missed two, Kevin Durant missed two, and the standard-bearer of free throw line efficiency Kevin Martin even missed a free throw. 

Russell Westbrook had an absolutely horrendous shooting night. Now, don't take this as blaming Wolverine for the loss. Westbrook, however, did play a bit out of wack tonight, missing easy layups, shooting up bad mid-range jumpers, and falling asleep defensively. Coupled with the lack of foul calls, Westbrook could never get in a rhythm and it completely stymied the offensive flow. 

The one if not only bright spot for OKC tonight was the MVP candidate, Kevin Durant. KD absolutely destroyed LeBron with a flurry of spot up shots, three pointers, step backs, and even a floater. If not for extenuating circumstances, this game would have placed KD in the sole top position for the MVP and would have been a prime example in the argument of Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James. However, the winning team gets the press, and this beautiful game by the Durantula will be mired in the loss. 

Analysis: This game was absolutely lopsided in the foul calling, play calling, and acting. Oklahoma City could not buy a call to save their life, most of the questionable calls coming in the final minutes. Miami absolutely out coached the Thunder, calling plays that took advantage of the OKC lineup and putting in players who exploited the lack in strength or speed of those same lineups. Flops, they were a plenty in this game. Miami could have won several awards for best actor or best picture had they flopped any sooner. Ray Allen, Lebron James, Shane Battier, and Dwyane Wade all took part in the flop-fest tonight, making the floor look like a live-fish fish market. As much I would like to blame the game on all of this, I can't. The Thunder had their chances, and unfortunately for the fans and the team, they didn't capitalize on them. 

Player of the Game: Kevin Durant. KD, with his 33 points, absolutely destroyed LeBron and was a pretty decent force on the defensive side. The odds were against him, and the last shot just couldn't drop. Unfortunately, that is all that will be remembered of this game. 

 Stat of the Night: 32-38. The 6 missed free throws from the charity stripe were exactly the difference in the game at the end of the night, and this is where the game was lost. 

Next Game: Thursday, December 27 in Dallas @ 7 CST

(Credit: Photo by Issac Baldizon | NBAE via Getty Images)