Payton Pritchard seems to harbor some animosity toward the team that usurped the Boston Celtics as NBA champions this season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder steamrolled through the entire league en route to winning their first NBA championship in June.
The Thunder were dominant for the entire season, finishing with a record of 68-14, one of the best in NBA history.
And in the playoffs, while the Thunder were tested by the Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers, they were able to lift the title.
But the Thunder were criticized by fans and critics for their playing style. And it appears Payton Pritchard is using those criticisms as ammunition to take shots at the reigning champions.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesPayton Pritchard suggests OKC Thunder took advantage of officiating in playoffs
Payton Pritchard spoke to reporters after an intense Boston Celtics practice session.
When discussing the physicality of the session, for which Pritchard was bearing a scar on his neck, he went on an interesting tangent.
Pritchard explained why the Celtics are focused on being physical. After which, he pointed to how the Oklahoma City Thunder got away with fouls and excessive physicality en route to the title. The Celtics are trying to do the same to be ready for the playoffs.
“When you see OKC and them win the championship, they got away with a lot of hands, fouls, a lot of physicality—stuff like that.
“The NBA, I feel like, in the playoffs, is allowing a lot more physicality now. But you’ve got to learn how to play through it and be more physical. We’re emphasizing it. It’s been good.”
OKC Thunder will not pay attention to outside noise
The Thunder have faced these criticisms a lot, both about their physicality, and their response to physicality from other teams.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been dubbed a foul artist by many people for drawing fouls and getting to the line quite consistently.
However, Shai dismissed the validity of those criticisms, noting how he plays the right way and his ability to draw fouls is a talent he worked on.
Tolerating criticism becomes a lot easier when you have the Larry O’Brien trophy in your quarters. So the Thunder won’t be too fussed about these criticisms.