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A common refrain from NBA players and coaches this time of year is that the playoffs are a completely different sport than the regular season.
The pace of play slows down, referees swallow their whistles in favor of physicality, and the familiarity that grows between teams over the course of a series makes it harder and harder to win.
This year, that familiarity has also bred contempt, as nearly every series in the first round has featured a skirmish of some sort, or at the least spirited trash talk. Let’s run through some of the postseason’s more charged moments so far.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers won their series against the Bucks, 4-1, with a thrilling, come-from-behind victory Tuesday night. Except that’s not what anyone is talking about after Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo got into an altercation with — of all people! — Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton’s dad after Game 5.
Don’t worry, Antetokounmpo also had a dustup with an actual player after the game as well.
These two teams have a longstanding feud dating to last season. This series started with a war of words between Haliburton and Bucks guard Damian Lillard, who wasn’t even suited up for Game 1.
Predictably, that spilled over onto the floor the next game.
Haliburton has since apologized for his father’s actions. Haliburton and the Pacers also sent well wishes to Lillard after he tore his Achilles in Game 4.
Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors
In the least surprising development of the playoffs, a matchup featuring the Warriors’ Draymond Green and longtime pest Dillon Brooks of the Rockets has gotten a little extra physical. Tempers especially flared in Game 4, which featured technical fouls on both Green and Brooks, as well as a flagrant foul on Green.
Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III made his feelings on Brooks clear after the Game 4, saying: “Get me on the record with this: I don’t like Dillon Brooks. We’re never having fun. I’m a fierce competitor. He’s a fierce competitor. There ain’t nothing fun about that.”
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers
The Nuggets and Clippers have also had some smoke for each other.
Things started relatively tame in Game 1, when Los Angeles assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy wouldn’t let go of the ball to stop Denver center Nikola Jokic from quickly starting a possession.
The chippiness escalated in Game 3, when a hard foul by Denver’s Christian Braun led to some shoving and six techs.
New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons
Not to be outdone, the battle between two historically nasty Eastern Conference teams, the Knicks and the Pistons, has also featured some fireworks. In Game 3, three technicals were handed out after some shoving.
The first five games of the series have been very physical, to the point where refs may be missing some clear fouls.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Compared to the feistiness elsewhere, this has been a relatively respectful series. But that didn’t stop Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert from elbowing Lakers star LeBron James in the back of the head after Gobert took exception to a hard boxout.
Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic
The defending champion Celtics won their series against the Magic, 4-1, though not without a cost. The Magic committed three significant flagrant fouls in the series.
In Game 1, Boston’s Jayson Tatum injured his wrist on a foul by Orlando’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, causing Tatum to miss Game 2.
In Game 2, Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis was bloodied after an elbow to the face.
And in Game 3, Orlando’s Cole Anthony dislocated one of Boston’s Jaylen Brown’s fingers with a flagrant foul.
Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
For fans of nonviolence, the Heat and Cavaliers had them covered.
After Game 2, Cleveland guard Darius Garland said the team’s game plan was to attack Miami’s Tyler Herro.
Herro responded before Game 3, saying Garland himself wasn’t a very good defender.
There was no showdown on the court, however, as Garland missed the last two games of the series as the Cavaliers cruised to a sweep.
