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Two games are virtually meaningless in the grand scheme of things, but the playoffs are built on tiny sample sizes. There are no flukes, only outcomes.

With 16 playoff games in the books, I wanted to look at six things that have surprised me, for good or ill.

1) Shai’s struggles

The Oklahoma City Thunder have had zero issues brushing aside a woefully outmatched Memphis Grizzlies team, who have played exactly one good quarter out of eight.

That’s why it’s been odd to see the MVP favorite struggle so much.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander certainly doesn’t need to be good for the Thunder to beat the Grizzlies, as we’ve seen so far. He only played 23 minutes in Game 1 as OKC spent most of the game flirting with the record for largest playoff victory margin. But it’s at least somewhat surprising that a team seemingly lacking a good matchup for him has managed to drive SGA into arguably his worst two-game stretch of the season.

Game 1: 4-for-13 from the field
Game 2: 10-for-29 from the field

Thunder fans will say that SGA has been fine in other respects, which is fair. Gilgeous-Alexander attributed his struggles to a normal shooting slump, which is also fair. Sure, the Grizzlies are sending a lot of help his way, but it’s nothing he hasn’t seen before. The likeliest explanation is the one he offered.

Still, it’s at least a little surprising. SGA’s whole thing is that he’s recession-proof, a metronomic scorer. He never had two consecutive games in the regular season shooting under 40% from the field.

Gilgeous-Alexander felt like he was forcing the issue a little bit in Game 2, trying to shoot his way back into a rhythm. It didn’t really work, but the nice thing about coasting to a 2-0 lead is that nobody cares that he’s struggling.

In a week, we won’t remember this. (Probably.)

2) Kenny Atkinson’s Jim Carrey turn

Atkinson is far more known for his intensity than his sense of humor. Sometimes, however, one can lead to the other, and he put on a physical comedy masterpiece last night.

He was forced to use a challenge on a call he disagreed with near the end of Game 2 against Miami, and, well, see for yourself:

I don’t know what I love more: the long pause, as if he can’t believe such a terrible call was made; the utter disgust leaping off his face; the complete lack of personal space he gives to the offending referee; the sarcasm-laden time-out and finger twirl at the end. It’s all so tasty.

Sidenote: the beleaguered referee is Pat Fraher, whose self-proclaimed hidden talent is “sleeping anywhere.” Next time, I’d like to see Atkinson work that into his routine!

3) Tobias Harris

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