The Thunder did not have a pleasant Western Conference Finals last May. Even before OKC let a seven-point lead disintegrate in the final five minutes of what could have been a series-winning Game 6, Golden State’s Draymond Green twice hit Steven Adams where it hurts.
The Thunder got a little satisfaction – Green wasn’t suspended during the OKC series, but when he pulled the same stunt on LeBron James in the NBA Finals, Green had to sit out Game 5 – but now, at least, the league is getting serious about shots to the groin region.
The NBA reports that its referees will be more closely policing hits to the groin.