Dillon Brooks couldn’t stand the quality of the officiating in Game 2 of the first-round series between the Phoenix Suns and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Following the Suns’ 120-107 loss on Wednesday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., Brooks voiced his frustration, saying he felt the officials didn’t give Phoenix a fair shake, as Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drew several fouls and went 9/9 from the free-throw line.
“[Gilgeous-Alexander is] a little frail, and that’s what the refs are going to call,” said Brooks, via Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “I got to be smarter about it, but this is the playoffs. It’s a man’s game.”
Brooks, who led the Suns in Game 2 with 30 points on 12-of-23 shooting, did not stop there. The former Oregon Ducks star ripped the state of playoff basketball, which he believes has been too accommodating to flopping, perhaps also an indirect shot at Gilgeous-Alexander.
“Like, I used to watch this back when Michael Jordan was playing or whoever else, when LeBron was younger. This is physical basketball. I don’t get why all the dropping and the falling and the flopping and the flailing and all this stuff is allowed when we get to the playoffs. Leave that for the [regular] season for the fans. This is about who’s the better team, who’s a more with-it team. Don’t decide the games on no free throws,” added Brooks.
Oklahoma City has been the best team in the NBA this season, but they have also faced constant criticism, especially for Gilgeous-Alexander, for his tendency to draw fouls and get easy opportunities at the foul line. Conversely, refs have also been accused of having a friendly whistle when it comes to calling fouls, favoring the Thunder guard.
The Suns will have to overcome those as they look to avoid the dreaded 3-0 playoff hole in Game 3 on Saturday at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
