24 hours after an thrilling win towards Memphis, the Spurs turned in one of many saddest (however predictable) performances in Oklahoma Metropolis. With Wemby out and the Thunder trying to find the 1-seed, even Charles Barkley may’ve predicted one thing akin to San Antonio’s eventual 127-89 blowout loss.
The expertise mismatch was evident proper from tip-off. OKC constructed a double-digit lead after just some minutes of play, and the Spurs began the sport 0-5 from the sector — together with quite a lot of wide-open flubs on the basket. With no lob risk, San Antonio grew to become a jump-shooting group, or ought to I say, a wannabe jump-shooting group. The quantity of terrible clanks that the Spurs generated ought to pressure the NBA to offer the sport an NSFW ranking, and issues weren’t a lot better on the opposite finish, both: San Antonio started enjoying sizzling potato with the ball, leading to 4 early turnovers that led to numerous Josh Giddey baskets and assists, and OKC received no matter they needed across the rim with out Wemby’s disruptive presence.
After the Thunder constructed a 20-point lead, Mark Daigneault began enjoying his bench extra. The issue, although, was that OKC’s reserves are nonetheless mild years forward of what the Spurs have. Gordon Hayward, Kenrich Williams, Isaiah Joe, and “Huge” Jaylin Williams all received extra run, and but the Thunder’s lead didn’t dwindle. These guys are all able to playmaking and taking pictures, and San Antonio continued having hassle maintaining with their tempo and ball motion. By the top of the primary half, OKC had already racked up 10 takeaways whereas producing an absurd 22 factors from these possessions.
With the sport primarily over, the Thunder barely performed their Huge Three for the remainder of the night time. SGA and “Wing” Jaylen Williams noticed lower than 10 minutes of motion within the second half, and Chet didn’t even make an look. OKC relied on Giddey to run its offense whereas the Spurs have been nonetheless trotting out their “beginning lineup,” and San Antonio’s biggest accomplishment of the sport was not being dominated as bady by the Thunder’s B-team.
By the fourth quarter, each groups have been primarily enjoying their G-League rosters. I received’t even attempt to title half the blokes on the court docket, and my largest takeaway from the sport was that Bismack Biyombo one way or the other stayed within the NBA after trying the best three-pointer in human historical past. Jokes apart, the Thunder held on to a 40-point lead for mainly the whole second half, however that’s what occurs at this level within the season when one group has one thing to play for whereas the opposite doesn’t.
Recreation notes
With San Antonio fielding a lineup stuffed with “Who He Play For?” guys, it was laborious to not focus extra on the Thunder and their rotation. This OKC squad is combating for the primary seed within the Western Convention whereas nonetheless being one of many youngest groups within the league, and there’s little doubt that the Spurs might want to undergo them in the event that they hope to make deep playoff runs through the Wemby period. Given the Thunder’s plethora of massive perimeter scoring choices, it’s crucial that San Antonio doesn’t hitch its wagon to a small guard who’s a defensive legal responsibility, irrespective of how offensively harmful he’s.
In fact, the Spurs can’t simply assemble their roster with one group in thoughts, however the league (and particularly the West) does seem to be it’s placing an emphasis on skillful dimension. This doesn’t imply that San Antonio shouldn’t inquire on the availabilities of guards reminiscent of Trae Younger or Darius Garland, however they need to be very cautious to not purchase one in all them (or somebody related) simply because Wemby’s already one of many 20 finest gamers within the league.
Again to the present Spurs roster. Whereas Champagnie and Branham have been two of the group’s most nice surprises, followers shouldn’t count on them to be any greater than first rate function gamers transferring ahead. The 2 of them mixed to shoot 4-15 from the sector and ended the sport with a complete of 12 factors, 5 rebounds, and a single help. Not having Wemby’s gravity actually didn’t assist, nevertheless it additionally proves that they will’t be relied upon to self-generate offense. Merely put, the Spurs want to enter the offseason with an open thoughts and never think about anybody untouchable outdoors of Wemby, Vassell, and perhaps Sochan.
Play of the sport
Dang, I’d forgotten how laborious it’s to choose a play of the sport with out having Wemby round. Let’s simply go along with a great ol’ decide and roll this time.
Subsequent sport: vs Nuggets on Friday
The schedule doesn’t get any simpler as San Antonio is about to face the defending champs, who’re additionally trying to find the West’s #1 seed.
