The frustration is real, and the Los Angeles Lakers are learning a hard lesson the Phoenix Suns already know all too well: playing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs is a whole different beast.

Back in November, Suns star Devin Booker didn't hold back after a heartbreaking 123-119 road loss to OKC. "The secret is out," Booker said. "They do speed you up. They play aggressive. They'll grab, they'll hold, but it's never like when you're in a shooting position. It's always on the handle or on your drives when they get away with it."

Fast forward to this week, and the Lakers are singing the same tune. After Thursday's 125-107 loss on May 7, Los Angeles finds itself down 2-0 in the Western Conference semifinals against the defending NBA champions. Lakers coach JJ Redick didn't mince words: "I sarcastically said the other day that they're the most disruptive team without fouling. They have a few guys that foul on every possession, and all the good defenses do."

Game 3 of this best-of-7 series tips off on May 9 in Los Angeles, with the Thunder holding the top overall playoff seed and the Lakers sitting at fourth in the West. But the tension is already boiling over. "They're hard enough to play," Redick added. "You've got to be able to call it if they foul, and they do foul."

If anyone can relate, it's the Suns. Phoenix faced Oklahoma City a grueling nine times this season—including a first-round playoff sweep at the hands of the Thunder. The frustration peaked after Game 2 on April 22 in OKC, when Dillon Brooks and Booker both snapped over the officiating.

"Ya'll should be interviewing the officials," Brooks said after that game. "That should be a new thing in the NBA. Officials got to explain themselves because it's getting ridiculous when you can see it. It starts getting fiery. No control out there. Now they're just whistling on one side."

Booker took it even further, echoing the same sentiment that now has the Lakers feeling the heat. Whether it's the aggressive defense or the whistle, one thing is clear: the Thunder have a way of getting under your skin—and into your head.