- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,152,671
- Reaction score
- 59
Long before the Thunder and the Spurs strapped in for these Western Conference finals, the basketball world anticipated a wild ride.
On one side, you had a team with a generational player, a guy who could do things no one had ever seen before, plus a high-powered offense and a tough-as-nails defense.
On the other side was a team with the exact same things plus an NBA title.
So, yes, this was expected to be every bit the roller coaster that it turned out to be.
Why not finish with the ultimate loop-the-loop?
Game 7.
That’s where this series is headed, of course, after the Spurs dismantled the Thunder 118-91 on Thursday night. Two nights after Oklahoma City played as well as it had all in these NBA Playoffs, it turned around in Game 6 and had one of its worst.
REPORT CARD: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder get smacked in Game 6 by Spurs | NBA Playoffs report card
There were big offensive lapses. There were uncharacteristic defensive breakdowns But worst of all, there was little sense of urgency on a night the Thunder had a chance to close out the series and vanquish the Spurs.
If the Thunder got complacent because it knew it had Game 7 at Paycom Center in its back pocket, even if that thought was somewhere in the way-back recesses of everyone’s minds, that’d be the ultimate dare-devil move.
These Spurs should not be given extra chances, even if Game 7s in Oklahoma City have been magical.
Last year, the Thunder won two of them, first in the Western Conference semifinals against the Nuggets and then in the NBA Finals against the Pacers.
Both series were magnificent. Tight. Competitive. Well-played. There were game winners and jaw droppers and so many twists and turns it felt like you were on the Zambezi Zinger.
Both opponents were splendid, too.
The Nuggets had Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon while the Pacers had Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam and TJ McConnell (who could forget that guy?). On one hand, you had a team in Denver that had been a champion and a standard bearer in the league for years, and on the other, there was an Indiana squad that you could see be an Eastern Conference force once Haliburton comes back from his Achilles tear.
But against the Thunder in a Game 7 at Paycom Center, neither team stood a chance.
More: Stephon Castle, Spurs 'feel like we’re better than this team' ahead of Game 7 vs Thunder
The Nuggets got absolutely obliterated, 125-93, and while the Pacers kept things closer longer, even after losing Hali to that Achilles injury, they still lost by double digits, 103-91.
The Thunder’s stars took it to the next level in those games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points in Game 7 against Denver, then 29 points and 12 assists against Indiana. Jalen Williams went for 24 points and seven assists against the Nuggets and 20 points against the Pacers.
In the two games combined, SGA was a plus-43, Williams a plus-48.
The Thunder reserves were splendid, too.
Get this: Cason Wallace was a plus-38 in that Game 7 against Denver — and he didn’t even have the best plus-minus of the OKC bench players. Alex Caruso, who helped in guarding Jokic, was a ridiculous plus-40.
And the Game 7 crowds at Paycom Center?
Absolutely bonkers, and that’s saying something.
Maybe all of those things happen again Saturday night. The stars going next level. The reserves playing well. The crowd being so loud for so long it feels like your ears will bleed.
TAKEAWAYS: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs dismantle Thunder to force Game 7 for NBA Finals spot
But none of that is promised.
Oh, I suspect the Thunder fans will be unbelievably loud, but the other stuff isn’t so sure, especially when you’re playing a team like the Spurs. Yes, the Nuggets and the Pacers were beasts last year, but the Spurs are a different animal.
The reason, of course, is Victor Wembanyama. He does things at 7-foot-4 with an 8-foot wingspan that affects games in ways no other player ever has in the NBA. Yes, the Thunder has found ways to tamp down some of his excellence. Sure, this will be the first Game 7 of his career.
But it sure feels like he’s capable of taking control of the proceedings Saturday night.
And with a talented, athletic, fiery bunch of guards around Wemby, the Spurs can get going and fast. They can put games out of hand and out of touch quickly, and they’ve even done that against the Thunder.
No Game 7 is a sure thing, but a Game 7 against Wemby and the Spurs feels like a particularly dangerous proposition.
For the Thunder, this will be a roller coaster where there’s no guarantee the car is even staying on the tracks.
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at [email protected]. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why NBA Playoffs Game 7 is no safe bet for OKC Thunder vs Wemby, Spurs
Continue reading...
On one side, you had a team with a generational player, a guy who could do things no one had ever seen before, plus a high-powered offense and a tough-as-nails defense.
On the other side was a team with the exact same things plus an NBA title.
So, yes, this was expected to be every bit the roller coaster that it turned out to be.
Why not finish with the ultimate loop-the-loop?
Game 7.
That’s where this series is headed, of course, after the Spurs dismantled the Thunder 118-91 on Thursday night. Two nights after Oklahoma City played as well as it had all in these NBA Playoffs, it turned around in Game 6 and had one of its worst.
REPORT CARD: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder get smacked in Game 6 by Spurs | NBA Playoffs report card
There were big offensive lapses. There were uncharacteristic defensive breakdowns But worst of all, there was little sense of urgency on a night the Thunder had a chance to close out the series and vanquish the Spurs.
If the Thunder got complacent because it knew it had Game 7 at Paycom Center in its back pocket, even if that thought was somewhere in the way-back recesses of everyone’s minds, that’d be the ultimate dare-devil move.
These Spurs should not be given extra chances, even if Game 7s in Oklahoma City have been magical.
Last year, the Thunder won two of them, first in the Western Conference semifinals against the Nuggets and then in the NBA Finals against the Pacers.
Both series were magnificent. Tight. Competitive. Well-played. There were game winners and jaw droppers and so many twists and turns it felt like you were on the Zambezi Zinger.
Both opponents were splendid, too.
The Nuggets had Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon while the Pacers had Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam and TJ McConnell (who could forget that guy?). On one hand, you had a team in Denver that had been a champion and a standard bearer in the league for years, and on the other, there was an Indiana squad that you could see be an Eastern Conference force once Haliburton comes back from his Achilles tear.
But against the Thunder in a Game 7 at Paycom Center, neither team stood a chance.
More: Stephon Castle, Spurs 'feel like we’re better than this team' ahead of Game 7 vs Thunder
You must be registered for see images attach
The Nuggets got absolutely obliterated, 125-93, and while the Pacers kept things closer longer, even after losing Hali to that Achilles injury, they still lost by double digits, 103-91.
The Thunder’s stars took it to the next level in those games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points in Game 7 against Denver, then 29 points and 12 assists against Indiana. Jalen Williams went for 24 points and seven assists against the Nuggets and 20 points against the Pacers.
In the two games combined, SGA was a plus-43, Williams a plus-48.
The Thunder reserves were splendid, too.
Get this: Cason Wallace was a plus-38 in that Game 7 against Denver — and he didn’t even have the best plus-minus of the OKC bench players. Alex Caruso, who helped in guarding Jokic, was a ridiculous plus-40.
And the Game 7 crowds at Paycom Center?
Absolutely bonkers, and that’s saying something.
Maybe all of those things happen again Saturday night. The stars going next level. The reserves playing well. The crowd being so loud for so long it feels like your ears will bleed.
TAKEAWAYS: Victor Wembanyama, Spurs dismantle Thunder to force Game 7 for NBA Finals spot
You must be registered for see images attach
But none of that is promised.
Oh, I suspect the Thunder fans will be unbelievably loud, but the other stuff isn’t so sure, especially when you’re playing a team like the Spurs. Yes, the Nuggets and the Pacers were beasts last year, but the Spurs are a different animal.
The reason, of course, is Victor Wembanyama. He does things at 7-foot-4 with an 8-foot wingspan that affects games in ways no other player ever has in the NBA. Yes, the Thunder has found ways to tamp down some of his excellence. Sure, this will be the first Game 7 of his career.
But it sure feels like he’s capable of taking control of the proceedings Saturday night.
And with a talented, athletic, fiery bunch of guards around Wemby, the Spurs can get going and fast. They can put games out of hand and out of touch quickly, and they’ve even done that against the Thunder.
No Game 7 is a sure thing, but a Game 7 against Wemby and the Spurs feels like a particularly dangerous proposition.
For the Thunder, this will be a roller coaster where there’s no guarantee the car is even staying on the tracks.
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at [email protected]. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why NBA Playoffs Game 7 is no safe bet for OKC Thunder vs Wemby, Spurs
Continue reading...
