OKLAHOMA CITY — The kick to the groin Thunder center Steven Adams suffered from the Warriors’ Draymond Green was about as pleasant as, well, a kick to the groin. But it could have been worse.
He could have been playing rugby.
“Because they have cleats, and I’ll leave the rest to the imagination of what actually happened. But they still play. That’s amazing those guys,” said Adams, a New Zealand product who said fist fights in rugby draw 10 minute penalties — “a sin bin” — and not suspensions.
Adams, who took a knee to the groin from Green in Game 2, is considering wearing added protection for his groin “due to the consistency of the hits.”
So one day after the Western Finals Game 3 kick, which resulted in a $25,000 fine and a Flagrant Foul 2 but no suspension, both sides expressed their views as to whether it was deliberate or an accident. Adams, averaging 11.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in the series, weighed in on the matter.
“I’ve seen the replay when I got home. Yeah, can’t say much about it really,” Adams said, claiming it looked worse than he thought. “From what I had in my mind, kind of confirmed it almost, so, yeah.”
Adams was asked what difference it would make if Green apologized.
“It doesn’t matter,” Adams said.
Adams’ physical play as part of the Thunder’s height advantage has played a major factor in the 2-1 edge OKC has entering Tuesday’s Game 4. The Thunder were more aggressive in two games without fouling much, earning a 69-42 free-throw edge in their wins.
“It’s just coming out aggressive and setting the tone. That’s the biggest key for us. Because once the refs get used to the way the teams are playing, that kind of works in our favor,” Adams said. “We try to be the more physical team and all that. … Fouls kind of drag us back.”