“Experience does not matter.”
This was Devin Vassell’s response to the question, “What do you and the Spurs think you’ve learned about yourself this season?”
You can no longer say they have exceeded expectations. You can no longer say they are ahead of schedule. You can no longer say that they are a couple of years away.
The Spurs have been clear for quite some time. They have all bought in. And now fans are buying in.
After 62 regular season wins, a Defensive Player of the Year honor, a Sixth Man of the Year award,
a five-game series against the Portland Trail Blazers, and a six-game series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Spurs are tied against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
After the Game 4 throttling, Victor Wembanyama referred to winning “six more wins” before he relaxes. He’s not comfortable with just taking this series, he’s focused on winning it all.
In the four games thus far, the Spurs have found success when limiting the productivity of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Not an easy task as SGA just picked up his second consecutive MVP trophy as well as his first ever Clutch Player of the Year honors.
In Game 1, the Spurs executed a defensive strategy on the Thunder’s star guard that stifled his shooting as well as his passing, producing turnovers which led to the double-overtime victory.
In Games 2 and 3, the Thunder adjusted by exposing the open man when SGA was double teamed. High percentage shooting from beyond the arc gave the defending champs a one game lead.
Last night, the Silver & Black altered its defense to double SGA closer in, cutting off the passing lanes, which suffocated OKC’s offense and leaving an abysmal 18% from three-point range.
The Spurs are also limiting fouls to Gilgeous-Alexander, another difficult task. He’s still making his way to the line, but is unable to sustain the level of calls he earns when paired with taking a tumble.
Earlier this season, Victor Wembanyama stated he was interested in ethical basketball. The young superstar elevated the term into the lexicon of basketball conversations. By comparison, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been accused of foul baiting and playing for the call.
The series features two of the youngest and most talented teams in the league, both with longevity in its plan. And they play two entirely different styles of basketball.
What the Thunder are doing won them a title last season. But the Spurs have found success in implementing their game, tuning out questionable calls, and allowing their talent to set the tone.
So perhaps Devin’s comment is fully correct.
Experience does matter. And the Spurs continue to prove that they internalize their experiences and process solutions at a rate that may have not seen before.
The question remains — will this be enough to overcome the obstacle of the Oklahoma City Thunder?
We get one step closer to answering that question on Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.
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