Shohei Ohtani will make return to mound in series opener against Padres: ‘It's time to go'
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers have treated Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound as a long-term play for months, preaching caution at every turn as baseball's lone two-way star returned from a second major elbow ligament reconstruction. That wait is over, as the three-time MVP voiced to the organization's brass what it had envisioned for years before he even put on a Dodgers uniform: He's ready.
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Ohtani, the pitcher, is back. The organization made the official announcement Sunday night, announcing that Ohtani would serve as the club's opener against the San Diego Padres and make his pitching debut for the franchise 20 months removed from his September 2023 procedure. He is expected to pitch just one inning as he continues his buildup in the majors — something rather unprecedented, but necessary as the Dodgers keep his valuable bat in the lineup.
'He's ready to pitch in a major-league game,' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday. 'He let us know that.'
Ohtani voiced that his pitches were good to go Saturday night.
'I felt like the intensity was there and my stuff was game-ready,' Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton.
The Dodgers have slow-played Ohtani's rehabilitation for months, decreasing his workload in spring training as he recovered from a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He didn't face hitters for the first time until May 25, when he touched 97 mph against a pair of teammates and a Dodgers hitting coach at Citi Field. The 21 days since have seen Ohtani quickly progress through a buildup on the mound, going from 22 pitches to 29 pitches to 44 pitches in a three-inning session Tuesday at Petco Park.
In that outing, Ohtani appeared to clearly amplify his intensity, using a PitchCom device and a pitch clock as well as pitching out of both the windup and the stretch as he recorded six strikeouts against teens from the Dodgers' spring complex in Arizona.
That day, Roberts suggested there was a chance Ohtani could be back sooner than the post-All-Star break timeline the Dodgers have messaged for months. Ohtani agreed with that assessment Saturday night – asked directly if a pre-All-Star timeline was feasible, he shrugged and said, 'Something like that.'
By Sunday morning, Roberts was suggesting that Ohtani could be ready to go after just one more simulated game. At 7:30 p.m. PT Sunday after a 5-4 Dodgers win over the Giants in which Ohtani reached safely all four times as a designated hitter, the club made it official over social media.
'The conversations, the confidence that he has, it's time to go,' Roberts said.
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The Dodgers have the luxury to do this because no other team has the roster flexibility that Ohtani gives them. With Ohtani listed as a two-way player, he gives the Dodgers 14 active pitchers as opposed to the limit of 13 — meaning the Dodgers can still operate with their typical pitching staff while simply having Ohtani's buildup continue in big-league games.
While he's expected to pitch one inning Monday, he will continue to build up at a rate of about an inning per outing until he's ready for full-fledged starts. For a Dodgers team that has 14 pitchers on the injured list, it's a much-needed boost.
They'll also get his arm while keeping his bat in the lineup, with the 'Ohtani rule' implemented in 2022 allowing him to remain in the lineup as a designated hitter even after his one inning on the mound is complete. The turnaround should be mere seconds between his final pitch in the top of the first inning Monday night and his stepping into the batter's box to lead off the bottom half of the frame.
The Dodgers have waited 17 months since Ohtani signed a record-setting 10-year, $700 million deal to watch him pitch in a game for the first time. They've already enjoyed the fruits of his ridiculous talents, as Ohtani won his third MVP award and became the first hitter ever to slug 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season in his first season with the club. That year also ended with a World Series.
Ohtani is already in the midst of another special season offensively, pacing the National League with 25 home runs and a 1.034 OPS.
The opportunity of seeing a fully-fledged Ohtani is something different altogether.
'It's very exciting,' Roberts said. 'I think that for me, I'm still a baseball fan first. I really am. The anticipation here for the game is, man, it's going to be bananas when it happens. There's been a lot of anticipation. I think we've done it the right way as far as kind of our process. Communicating with Shohei and feeling good. So when it does happen, I think that it's just, it's great for the game. It's good for our team. Our guys are excited about this potential. Most important, I'm excited for Shohei.'
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New York Times
28 minutes ago
- New York Times
Where do the Oilers and Panthers rank among the greatest repeat Stanley Cup Final matchups?
Are you enjoying the rematch between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers? I'm guessing you are, since it's already getting some buzz as one of the greatest Stanley Cup Finals of the cap era. This comes one year after our own Chris Johnston ranked the 2024 edition as the best final of the era before it was even over. Advertisement So yeah, it's fair to say these two teams work well together. Sometimes, with the right matchup, that just happens. Where it's Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese, or Bret Hart and Steve Austin, some pairings just make magic together. And that can be true even if it takes a little while to get them back together. As luck would have it, the Oilers and Panthers are the tenth iteration of the same two teams meeting in multiple Stanley Cup Final since the start of the expansion era in 1968. So today, let's put together a ranking of all ten of those pairings, from worst to best, based on how entertaining the resulting series was. The Panthers and Oilers are at a disadvantage here, since their second series hasn't ended yet. But I'm guessing they're still going to rank pretty high, and might even end up taking the crown. Let's find out… First matchup: In 1968, the two teams met in a matchup pitting an established powerhouse against an expansion team. Predictably, the Canadiens swept the series in four games, none of which anyone alive today has any recollection of. Second matchup: In 1969, the two teams met in a matchup pitting an established powerhouse against a recent expansion team. Predictably, the Canadiens swept the series in four games, none of which anyone alive today has any recollection of. Were they classics?: It's subtle, but I tipped my hand in the previous two sections. No, these were not classics. You could make a case that they're among the worst Stanley Cup Finals of the expansion era, although the first meeting at least had a couple of overtimes. Star power: This wasn't the most star-studded Canadiens team ever, but they did feature names like Jean Beliveau, Henri Richard, Yvan Cournoyer and Serge Savard, as well as a young Rogie Vachon and an old Gump Worsley between the pipes. The Blues were basically team 'Red Berenson and pray for rain,' although they did have Glenn Hall in goal, and he was even backed up by Jacques Plante in the second meeting. Advertisement Controversy: Why are we letting an expansion team have a guaranteed path to the final? It would take the NHL one more year to fix that, resulting in a 1970 final that we'll see a bit further down the list. Most memorable moment: It probably came off the ice, as Canadiens legend Toe Blake announced his retirement from coaching shortly after the 1968 final ended. Bottom line: It's always nice when these sorts of rankings have at least one spot everyone can agree on. First matchup: In 1988, the Oilers swept the Bruins in five games. Second matchup: In a rematch two years later, the Bruins managed to win a game, but once again lost the series in five. Were they classics?: They were not. Star power: In addition to most of the Oilers legends (although Wayne Gretzky was gone by 1990), you had Boston's Ray Bourque in the first two finals of his career. We didn't know it at the time, but these series would be important building blocks for Bourque's OGWAC story. Also, the 1990 Conn Smythe winner was Oilers goalie Bill Ranford, which is fun because the Bruins had traded him to Edmonton a few years before. Controversy: Did you catch the part about the 1988 series being a five-game sweep? Yeah, this was the year that the lights went out in Boston during Game 4. The game was tied at the time, so the league just moved on to holding Game 5 in Edmonton as scheduled. The result didn't go into the books as an official tie, but the game and its stats did count. Most memorable moment: It wasn't an especially competitive rivalry, but at least they did give us a triple-OT game. That was Game 1 of the 1990 final, with Petr Klima going from the doghouse to the hero. Bottom line: Not great by any stretch, but at least the 1990 edition was weirdly memorable. First matchup: The Canadiens won their second straight Cup in 1977, sweeping the Bruins in four straight. Advertisement Second matchup: The rematch came a year later and saw the Bruins put up a better fight. But Montreal still won, this time in six. Were they classics?: First things first – remember, we said we were only doing the post-expansion era, which is why these two teams only account for two matchups. They've faced each other in the final on five other occasions from before 1968, with the Candiens winning every one of them. As far as 1977 and 1978, no, they weren't classics (even though these two teams were capable of one, as we'll see in a minute). Star power: Those late-70s Canadiens were stacked, with names like Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson and Ken Dryden. The Bruins weren't as star-studded, although they still had Hall of Famers like Brad Park, Gerry Cheevers and a 40-something Johnny Bucyk. Oh, and the coaching matchup was Scotty Bowman and Don Cherry. Controversy: Cherry let the refs have it in 1978, accusing them of favoring Montreal by only calling coincidental minors instead of giving Boston power plays. Most memorable moment: Mention these two teams from this era, and everyone remembers their classic Game 7 that featured the too-many-men call leading to the Canadiens' OT comeback win. One problem, at least for our purposes: That one came in the 1979 semi-final, not one of the finals. We'll probably have to settle for Jacques Lemaire's OT Cup-winner in 1977. Bottom line: This is arguably the NHL's greatest rivalry, including more Stanley Cup Final matchups than any other pairing. But through our post-1968 lens, featuring just these two series, they're just OK. First matchup: The up-and-coming Oilers got their first shot at a Cup in 1983 against the Islanders, who'd won three straight at that point. They made it four, delivering a strong message in a surprising sweep. Advertisement Second matchup: The rematch came one year later and this time it was the Oilers who flexed, winning in five to take the throne as the NHL's new dynasty. Were they classics?: In the big picture, maybe you'd call them that, as there may have never been a more dramatic torch-passing between two rivalries. But the series themselves were duds. Star power: Overwhelming, with the Islanders featuring Denis Potvin, Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier while the Oilers had Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey and Mark Messier. Mix in Hall-of-Fame goalies Grant Fuhr and Billy Smith, and Glen Sather and Al Arbour behind the benches, and there may not be a pairing that can match this one. Controversy: We sometimes say a goalie is playing out of his mind, and in Smith's case, we could mean it in more ways than one. He was great, winning the Conn Smythe in 1983. He was also a stick-swinging maniac, which added to the drama. Let's just say Sam Bennett's crease-crashing act might have played out just a bit differently if he'd tried it on 1983-era Billy Smith. Most memorable moment: Befitting a pair of series that didn't really deliver on the ice, this one happened in the hallways. According to legend, members of the losing Oilers didn't truly understand what it took to win the Cup until they walked by the dressing room of the victorious Islanders and saw how beaten up the champs were. Did this actually happen? Probably not, but fans love it, so it's become the sort of lore nobody challenges. (Until one of you sends it in for the next Contrarian.) Bottom line: All the elements were there for a legendary final or two. We did not get those, and have to settle for symbolism and urban legends. First matchup: In 1986, the Canadiens rode rookie Patrick Roy to a five-game win. Advertisement Second matchup: Three years later, the Flames got their revenge, winning their first (and still only) Cup by beating the Canadiens in six in the 1989 final. Were they classics?: Both series were good, but probably fall just short of true classic status. Star power: The first Calgary team had Lanny McDonald and Al MacInnis, and added classic Flames names like Joe Nieuwendyk, Theo Fleury and Doug Gilmour for the rematch. Meanwhile, the Canadiens were built from the back end, featuring Larry Robinson and Chris Chelios on both teams. And of course, the goaltending matchup featured Hall of Famers Roy and Mike Vernon, making these two series the second and third most famous Roy vs. Vernon battles. Controversy: There was an 'appalling' postgame brawl in the 1986 series that featured some biting, and saw the league hammer the teams with fines. Most memorable moment: For the Canadiens, I'd go with Brian Skrudland's record-setting goal nine seconds into overtime. For the Flames, it was more about finally seeing McDonald get to hold the Cup. Bottom line: Back then, it was nice to see teams other than the Oilers or Islanders in a final. And in hindsight, these were the last two all-Canadian finals we may ever see. First matchup: In 1970, the Bruins took over from the Canadiens as the established team that would sweep the expansion Blues in the final. Second matchup: Almost five decades later, the Blues got their revenge by beating the Bruins in seven to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup in 2019. Were they classics?: The first meeting, not so much. The second series did go to seven, but probably falls just short of being one of the true greats of the modern era. Star power: Decent but not overwhelming. The 1970 Bruins were built around legends Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito, while the 2019 edition had names like Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara and Brad Marchand. But the Blues don't really carry their end of their bargain here, with even the 2019 winners being more than the sum of their parts. Advertisement Controversy: There was a missed tripping call in the 2019 final that was bad even by NHL playoff officiating standards. Most memorable moment: Somewhat surprisingly, it comes from the 1970 final instead of the far more recent (and far better) series. Even though some would argue that it remains one of the NHL's most overrated moments, it has to be Orr's flying Cup winner. Bottom line: This is the longest gap between series we'll see on this list, and you have to appreciate long-term booking. And it was worth the wait, with one seven-game series and another that at least produced a historic moment. First matchup: The first came in 1985. In a rare meeting of the two top teams in the regular-season standings, rookie coach Mike Keenan led his league-topping Flyers against the defending champs and won the opener, only to see the Oilers win out to take the series in five. Second matchup: Two years later, we got a rematch in which the Oilers were heavy favorites. But the Flyers gave them all they could handle, taking them to a seventh game before losing. Were they classics?: The first, no, but you could make an argument that the 1987 series was. Star power: The Oilers were stacked. The 1985 Flyers were not, with one Hall of Famer (Mark Howe) and a handful of Hall of Very Good guys like Tim Kerr and Brian Propp; their leading scorer in the final that year was 20-year-old winger Derrick Smith. The 1987 team wasn't much different, although rookie goalie Ron Hextall stole the show, winning the Conn Smythe in a losing cause. Controversy: Lots of rough stuff, as you'd expect from these two teams in that era. But my favorite controversy came in the 1985 series, when the Flyers' radical idea of letting their goalies have a water bottle on top of the net resulted in Glen Sather threatening to pull the Oilers off the ice while demanding to know whether buckets of fried chicken were next. Most memorable moment: It would be the Game 7, and probably Glenn Anderson's slapper to seal the Oilers' title. Bottom line: The Oilers sure seem to love showing up on this list. This was the best of the three options from the 1980s dynasty. First matchup: In 1971, the Canadiens followed a so-so season by upsetting the Black Hawks in seven games. Second matchup: Two years later, the teams met again, this time with Montreal the heavy favorite. They won the Cup in six. (By the way: No, you're not catching a repeated typo – they were called the Black Hawks and not the Blackhawks back then.) Advertisement Were they classics?: Pretty close. I'm not sure modern fans remember these meetings all that well, but they gave us 13 games, almost all of them close. Star power: High. We've already met most of those early '70s Canadiens up above, and they'd just added Frank Mahovlich. Meanwhile, the Hawks had Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito, plus Bobby Hull in the first meeting. Controversy: There was a big one on the Montreal side in 1971, with coach Al MacNeil benching captain Henri Richard, who responded by calling his own coach 'incompetent' while the series was still going on. It led to MacNeil becoming the only coach to be fired right after winning a Cup. Most memorable moment: It's probably the Richard/MacNeil feud, but let's work in a mention of the Black Hawks beating the Canadiens 8-7 in Game 5 of the 1973 final, which still stands as the highest-scoring final game ever. Bottom line: I'm not trying to go all old-man on you kids out there, but these are two underrated finals that deserve more respect. First matchup: Last year, the Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 series lead before the Oilers fought back to force a Game 7 and everyone freaked out. It ruled. Second matchup: We're five games in as I write this, with three games being overtime classics and the other two being impressive-but-forgettable Panthers wins. Were they classics?: I'd put the first series in that category for sure. The rematch is still to be determined, although an Oilers win in Game 6 would set the table nicely. Star power: Well, both series have featured the best player in the world, who may someday even be placed in the context of being the single greatest player in the history of the sport. And in addition to Playoff Sam Bennett, there's also Connor McDavid. Plus Leon Draisaitl, Sasha Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Evan Bouchard, Sergei Bobrovsky, Brad Marchand dropping in for the rematch … you know what, I'm going to give this one a yes. Advertisement Controversy: We've had a disputed interference review, some water bottle hijinks and even some warmup weirdness with the backup goalies. But given that the Panthers and Corey Perry and Evander Kane are all involved, we've miraculously avoided anything all that bad, which means that … oh no, I just jinxed it, didn't I? I apologize to everyone for what's about to happen. Most memorable moment: If you're an Oilers fan, you're hoping it's still on the way. For now, there's been a ton of fun moments to choose from on the ice. But I really think the most memorable of them all might be McDavid's meltdown after last year's Game 3, especially since in hindsight we know it almost worked. Bottom line: I'm hesitant to rank this pairing as number one, since I'm a bit wary of recency bias and we still don't know how this year's series will end. But it's already way up the list, and we could be a few days from it moving up even further. First matchup: It came in 2008, with the veteran Red Wings holding off the up-and-coming Penguins in six games. Second matchup: The rematch came one year later, and this time the Penguins did just enough to flip the script, winning in seven. Were they classics?: They were borderline at the time, and I'd argue they only look better with a bit of distance and some historical context. Star power: Plenty, with the Red Wings still having Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk while the Penguins had Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury and Kris Letang coming into their primes. Mix in the fun Marian Hossa factor, and even Dominik Hasek sitting on the Wings bench, and it feels like a snapshot of hockey history. Controversy: Aside from the usual questions about close calls, there wasn't much aside from a weird mix-up in one of the handshake lines. Most memorable moment: Fleury robbing Lidstrom in the dying seconds of Game 7 might be the single greatest ending to a Stanley Cup Final ever. Bottom line: It doesn't get much better than this. But check back in a few days. (Photo of Brad Marchand and Mattias Ekholm: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
USA Today
28 minutes ago
- USA Today
Big 12 pitcher reportedly cancelled his visit to Texas A&M
Big 12 pitcher reportedly cancelled his visit to Texas A&M Texas A&M's pitching future is uncertain, as starters Ryan Prager and Justin Lamkin have yet to announce their plans for the upcoming season. Both could easily declare for the 2025 MLB Draft, particularly after Lamkin's impressive 2024 season. Prager, who was selected in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels, did not have his best season and should consider returning for a final season. However, head coach Michael Earely, who will return for his second season at the helm, has landed two arms from the transfer portal, including Rutgers closer Preston Prince, who threw as high as 98 MPH last season. Still, this is just a start, and according to College Baseball Central reporter Andrew Riedell, one of Texas A&M's scheduled visitors has canceled his plans. Riedell reported that Baylor LHP Carson Bailey was supposed to visit the Aggies this coming Tuesday, but will now consider other options, as he is being heavily pursued by several SEC programs who are all in need of pitching depth in the transfer portal age. While this isn't the best news for Earley and pitching coach Jason Kelly, the competition for pitchers in the portal is fierce, and Bailey could end up rescheduling a visit with the program shortly while he looks at other options. During his 2025 freshman season, Bailey finished with a 4.89 ERA and 56 strikeouts. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
New York Times
38 minutes ago
- New York Times
Why committing fouls is a necessary evil for Thunder's league-best defense
This moment was created for Lu Dort. Protecting a one-point lead with under two and a half minutes remaining in what amounted to a do-or-die Game 4, the Oklahoma City Thunder's brawny firecracker stayed on brand, picking up Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton full-court. Such is Dort's forte. Haliburton proceeded with caution, avoiding the breakneck pace that Indiana tormented opposing defenses with all year. Before getting to half court, he pitched the ball ahead to Pascal Siakam, but getting rid of the rock did not get rid of Dort. Advertisement Dort watched the ball traverse over his noggin but did not divert his focus from Haliburton. Like an NFL cornerback in press coverage at the line of scrimmage, he jammed Haliburton at half court, extending two hands into the All-NBA guard's chest. The contact halted any forward progress and forced Haliburton to run east or west to get the ball. Haliburton still hoped to go north-south. But Dort, per usual, slid himself in the way. The press coverage at the half-court line allowed the Thunder's All-Defensive First Team guard to get between Haliburton and Siakam as they tried a dribble handoff. The purpose of the action was to slingshot the Pacers' offensive engine downhill toward the rim. But Dort plowed through the 6-foot-8 forward like he wasn't even there. He crowded Haliburton as he received the ball. Haliburton could not turn the corner, so he kicked it back to Siakam and let his teammate probe Oklahoma City's defense on the other side of the floor. As the Pacers worked their pass-heavy offense from side to side, Dort denied Haliburton from getting the ball back in his hands, which encouraged Haliburton to retreat out to the half-court line. And there, Haliburton and Dort stood and waited as the Pacers looked for a shot with just over two minutes remaining in Friday's match, an eventual Thunder victory that tied the NBA Finals at two games apiece. With 10 seconds remaining on the shot clock, Haliburton made his break for the ball. Naturally, Dort was ready. As Haliburton tried to grab it, Dort gave him a bump with his left hand and once again forced himself between the passer and receiver of the dribble handoff. In this instance, Dort got his left hand on the ball and tipped it into the backcourt for what turned into a clutch-time steal that added a point to Oklahoma City's lead. After the game, when referee talk dominated the public discourse, this play drew an awful lot of attention on social media. — Young Simba (@the2kmessiah) June 14, 2025 From the opposite baseline, it appeared as though Dort's physicality crossed the line. But the Thunder had already dictated the terms of the game with their relentless physicality. If it crossed the line, so be it. After all, this isn't just Dort's brand. It's also the Thunder's. Dort may not have picked up a foul on this particular play, part of a special second-half suffocation of Haliburton, but there are other moments like this when an official blows the whistle. The Thunder will take the fouls, whether from him, from fellow perimeter pests Alex Caruso, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, or from rim protectors Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren. Advertisement In Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will bash offenses into submission, fouls are baked into the recipe, a necessary evil inside the league's top defense. 'It's kind of the cost of doing business with physicality. … A lot of it for us is learning which ones we don't give,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. 'Like, a guy gathers the ball, is about to take a tough shot — (Pacers guard Andrew) Nembhard is good at that. You get caught with your hands in there. He knows how to sell those calls or get those calls. He deserves the calls. If you're reaching in late, he's about to shoot a long 2, those are the ones you wanna lay off of. But some of them is just the cost of physicality.' The Thunder are in exclusive company, not just because of their success but also because of their style. Historically, the best defenses can get stops without fouling. But Oklahoma City engulfs basketball's gaudiest attacks not in spite of its hacking but because of it. 'You gotta look at the other stuff,' Caruso told The Athletic. 'The turnover creation, the rebound rate, transition, those are the things that we win. We might give up something with fouls, but we are OK being aggressive and setting the tone that way when we don't give up the other stuff.' The Thunder are kleptomaniacs. After leading the league in takeaways during the regular season, their defensive turnover rate has somehow increased during the playoffs. Elite competition, whether it's Haliburton or Anthony Edwards or Nikola Jokić on the other side, has not hindered what has been the NBA's top defense all year. Oklahoma City allowed the fewest points per possession of any team during the regular season and has stayed atop the league during the playoffs, as well. It makes the Thunder one of only two defenses since the NBA began tracking per-possession data in 1996 to lead the league in defensive efficiency, but also finish bottom five in free-throw rate (free-throw attempts per 100 possessions) allowed. The other is the 2008 Boston Celtics, who famously smashed their way to a title during Year 1 of a big three that included Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. Advertisement In other words, the Thunder foul a ton but don't give up many points. And the last squad that pulled off this strategy to the same extreme got a championship out of it. 'We're going to play the way that we do,' Dort said. 'We're going to be aggressive.' The first possession of an OKC game often includes some player swiping at another. Early, hard fouls or the patented swarming of the paint that's become the team's staple set a Thunder-friendly baseline from the jump, since refs can't send players to the line each possession. They aren't the only team deploying this strategy. In fact, never before has what's normally been a staple among the best defensive teams — guarding without fouling — been flipped on its head so aggressively. Other teams around the league are adopting similar identities, including the only other one that's still alive. The Pacers have played their best defense of the season during a playoff run that has included victories over the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks. Add in a matchup with the Thunder, and that's four opponents that finished inside the top 10 in points per possession during the regular season. Indiana has humbled each of those top-notch offenses. It stifles ball movement. Its perimeter defenders, led by Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, provide the Dort treatment. It limits efficient shot selection. Even in a Game 4 victory, the Thunder couldn't get into their offense against the Pacers, when OKC dished out only 10 assists and attempted just 17 3-pointers. Meanwhile, one trend stands out: As the Pacers' defense has ramped up, so has its foul rate. The Pacers have fouled significantly more during the playoffs than they did during the regular season, when fouling is supposed to decrease. They now own the highest free-throw rate allowed out of all 16 playoff teams. Advertisement 'I think it's because of the way they are pressuring the way they are,' Daigneault said. 'They're incredibly physical on the perimeter. They're getting the ball up the floor. They're pursuing over screens. And it's disrupted the plays, but the trade-off of that is you end up getting whistles.' If anyone knows, it's Daigneault. But he and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle aren't the only ones. The first defensive possession of every Orlando Magic game this season was indistinguishable from a brawl. Orlando would strategically come out swinging, similar to Oklahoma City, in the hopes of setting that baseline. The Magic ended the season second in points allowed per possession and 30th in free-throw rate allowed. They are the only team since 1996 to finish dead last in that stat and still own a top-five defense. They are willing to concede the free throws, just like the Thunder. Midway through the first quarter of Game 4, Siakam sprang on a fast break. Two OKC wings, Williams and Aaron Wiggins, stood in front of him, blocking the lane to the hoop. Siakam lofted the ball behind him to microwave scorer Bennedict Mathurin, who was in a position to attack. That's when the Thunder did what they do best. Williams angled in front of Mathurin as Caruso throttled the length of the court to catch the dribbler from behind. Both defenders reached for the ball. In their best moments, which come often, the Thunder look like an angry colony of bees. But in this case, Mathurin got stung. Williams swiped him on the arm while going for the ball. Two free throws. The Thunder bets that a turnover will occur just often enough to justify a foul like this one. It's a mathematical equation. The Thunder's defensive rating would have been 3.3 points per 100 possessions worse had they turned over opponents at a league-average rate instead of a league-best one (assuming their opponent scores at a league-average rate), a gap that doesn't even take into account all the misses that OKC's freneticism causes. Advertisement It might not sound like much, but 3.3 points per 100 was the difference between the second-ranked Magic's defense and the 10th-ranked Detroit Pistons. It was the difference between the Pistons' defense and the 24th-ranked Charlotte Hornets. So the Thunder live with the fouls, not because they are impossible to fix, but because they are a product of their success. 'A lot of times, they just let us rock,' Williams said. 'If we have fouls that we can learn from or we're trying to do the right thing and we foul, we try to learn from those, but they try not to get too involved because it's part of our identity a little bit.' — The Athletic's Sam Amick contributed to this story.
