NBA FINALS PREVIEW: The San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are back in the NBA Finals where it feels like home. Can they repeat what their predecessors did in 1999 and take the Larry O’Brien trophy back into the Alamo?
The Spurs have just gone toe-to-toe with the NBA’s best team in the regular season and came out on top. It was indeed an epic match between two heavyweights. The reward is a few days of respite and an NBA Finals game 1 at home.
While Texas gets busy with media night, it would be interesting to look at what the Spurs can look at to win game 1 and keep the homecourt advantage. They win all home games, they win it all.
FATIGUE
Victor Wembanyama and the rest of the San Antonio squad are coming from a grueling 7-game series with the Thunder, and they are probably still tired. They are also still kinda “warmed,” so that kind of even things out a bit.
The online world is abuzz with Jeremy Sochan, a former San Antonio player who is now with the Knicks, spilling trade secrets on how to stop Wembanyama. The idea is to allegedly tire out the alien by constantly dragging him into the wings and throwing “bruisers” (Karl Anthony-Towns, Mitchell Robinson) onto him in the paint.
Isn’t that what the Thunder did? Perhaps, the carryover fatigue hasn’t completely gone away yet, and this issue becomes apparent soon. It would be interesting to see how coach Mitch Johnson would manage Wemby’s minutes against New York.
MISMATCHES
Many basketball analysts are pointing out that the Spurs could spam their pick and roll offense because (1) they have great ball handlers who could penetrate, and (2) Karl Anthony-Towns, the Knicks’ main big man, is not considered as a good P&R defender. The key is for whoever Towns is guarding to be the ball-screener, which forces drop coverage and leads to plenty of scoring opportunities.
If the Knicks get their shooters hot early and their offense fast-paced, maybe they could have nice advantages, but they would have to defend the Spurs ball-handlers, who could create their own shots (Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Dylan Harper).
GUARDING BRUNSON
Oddly enough, defending against Jalen Brunson might be a bit trickier and might take a bit more compared to guarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Spurs defense just sort of collapsed on SGA whenever he had the ball, sometimes even if he were at half court. Double teams and soft triple coverages.
This tactic might not work against Brunson as he is an excellent passer and can find experienced set-up shot specialists waiting in the three—Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges among others.
If the Spurs could contain Brunson 1-on-1, then they have a really good chance of stealing game 1.
Game 1 is Wednesday morning (8:30 AM PHT).
DAILY FANTASY PICKS for GAME 1:
Captain: Victor Wembanyama
Vice Captain: Jalen Brunson
Key picks: De’Aaron Fox, Karl Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, OG Anunoby
You may use the suggested picks to play Daily Fantasy now! Here’s how to get you started. Don’t miss the NBA Playoffs!
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