Is OKC Thunder's Controversial Style of Play a Growing Problem for the NBA?

We're now more than halfway through the Western Conference Finals. And at this point of the Oklahoma City Thunder's title defense, there's no question that the run has been defined by the overwhelming majority of fans' aversion to it.

Every time the Thunder play, social media is quickly taken over by clips (and complaints) of OKC players hitting the deck, grabbing opponents and otherwise stretching the rules to their absolute limit.

By the time this run is over, the lowlight reel could be several minutes long.

It would certainly include some of Isaiah Hartenstein's grabbing.

Chet Holmgren stomping would be in there too.

There would be plenty of unnatural shooting motions.

And of course, the video would include lots of falling. Lots, and lots, and lots of falling.

The Thunder aren't the first team to have floppers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is far from the first superstar to benefit from the practice. Joel Embiid and James Harden did more than their fair share of foul-baiting during their MVP campaigns.

But there are some key differences between those past examples and what this OKC team is doing.

First, what we'll call the "antics" of the Thunder (which includes the flopping, selling, accentuating or whatever else you want to call it) seem to have become a defining characteristic of the entire team. It's not just one or two guys. The only rotation (or fringe rotation) player who doesn't seem to be in on the approach is Kenrich Williams.

And what's more, the approach is working to an almost comical degree. An OKC player finding the floor is typically followed by a whistle. If it didn't work, there'd be no reason for SGA to do it as often as he does.

And this style leading to wins (and possibly two championships) is a problem. The NBA has long been a league packed with imitators. When teams see something that works, they want to copy it.

If falling works for the Thunder, why wouldn't we try it too?

Flopping, in general, has become far more common over the last 20 years or so. The Thunder, dominating with it as a key component of their success, could accelerate the spread.

The other key difference between OKC's approach and some of the prominent floppers of the past is the contrast between how the Thunder play offense and defense.

On one end, they're selling the slightest bit of contact like they're all the reincarnation of prime Ric Flair. On the other, they're defending like a bunch of badgers. Grabbing, clawing, pushing. They're perhaps the single-most physical defensive unit in the league.

And the double standard has become so unavoidably clear that players are starting to join with a chorus of coaches who've complained about OKC's whistle in postgame press conferences all season.

Now, you have to take the analysis of officiating from a player fresh off a loss with a grain of salt. And OKC fans will surely point out their free-throw-attempt differential now (if they haven't already). So far this postseason, they've actually taken five fewer freebies than their opponents.

But this is obviously one of those instances where you need video along with the numbers. Free-throw-attempt differential doesn't end the discussion when you have waves of evidence like the clips above—every time a team plays. And with the way OKC defends, it's a small wonder that it isn't called for several more fouls per game.

Now, believe it or not, there is a bright side to all of this (even if you aren't a Thunder fan).

The NBA's best team and its two-time reigning MVP becoming the subject of this conversation could force the league to finally address an issue that, again, has been brewing for several years now.

Adam Silver at least acknowledged the problem on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday.

And if he ever decides to seriously address it, the fixes should be a lot easier than his years-long crusade against tanking.

The NBA features the best basketball players and some of the best athletes in the world. If flopping is forced out of their repertoires, they'll quickly adjust. There aren't many bets safer than assuming none of these players use these tactics when they play pickup in the offseason.

And real punishments would stop the trend in a heartbeat.

If the league were to take the responsibility out of the hands of the on-site officials (who already have enough to deal with), review blatant flops after the fact and start handing out suspensions, the flopping would stop within weeks.

There is a lot of good happening in the NBA right now. TV ratings and money are up. Franchise valuations are skyrocketing. The league has never had more talent from top to bottom.

But there are still issues to address. And this is a fixable one.

The NBA could either continue to turn a blind eye to the way OKC plays and watch it spread further through the league. Or they could start cracking down on some of the Thunder's more controversial practices and protect the integrity of the game.