Wemby, Spurs outlast Shai and the Thunder: The Day After Report
OKC trails 0-1 in series
Postgame Bolts
- Thunder and Spurs were the two clear best teams in the league this season. 64 win team vs 62 win team. One of the best playoff matchups in a long time. And maybe a preview of the next 5 years.
- All due respect to the Knicks and Cavs...But this Western Conference Finals has the feeling of the NBA Finals. Just send both these teams to the NBA Finals and let the Knicks and Cavs battle for third place.
- Adam Silver presented SGA his second consecutive MVP trophy pregame and I couldn't hear most of what he said because the OKC crowd drowned him out. Loud City was on one in Game 1.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander debuted his new SHAI 001 Slithers in Game 1. The shoes have a snake design. Very unfortunate OKC wasn't playing the Rockets for this premiere.
- Big ovation for Jalen Williams during player intros in his return from injury.
- Welcome back from injury, JDub. Your first assignment: the 7'5 guy.
- After the Spurs went up 7-0 to open the game, Alex Caruso checked in early for Isaiah Hartenstein and immediately scored OKC's first 7 points of the game and turned the momentum.
- Alex Caruso: playoff specialist. AC dropped a 30 piece in the Western Conference Finals... and OKC did not win. Oof.
- First game back and JDub had Loud City barking. Back to back to back buckets from Jalen Williams capped by a slam gave OKC their first lead.
- The irony that Wemby's first shot against OKC in the playoffs was a flop/grift/whatever the trendy word you want to call it.
- Spurs were in the bonus 4 minutes into the game.
- JDub took OKC's first free throws of the game with 2 seconds to go in the 1st quarter. Spurs had taken 8.
- Wemby later got a 'free throw merchant" chant from the OKC crowd. Wemby at the time had taken 10 free throws. OKC had taken 9 free throws.
- Wemby bull rushed Alex Caruso in the open court. Reviewed for a flagrant but nope.
- The opening minutes of the 2nd quarter when OKC went 0-6 on wide open 3s and the Spurs drilled a few 3s ended up being a critical stretch. The 1st and 3rd quarters were a draw. OKC won the 4th quarter.
- Cason Wallace started the 2nd half over Isaiah Hartenstein to give OKC five shooters and more space on the floor. It worked. OKC outscored the Spurs 14-6 to open the 3rd.
- Things look a lot different when open 3s are falling.
- SGA went 1v1 on Stephon Castle to tie the game 101-101 in the closing moments of regulation. Then Chet Holmgren had a massive block on Wemby's game winning attempt to force OT.
- Double overtime in OKC felt like a throw back to the Thunder's first 2 games of the season.
- Cheat code: the Spurs get an auto first possession every overtime period.
- Heartbreaker of a loss for the Thunder. It felt like the game was in hand when they were up 3 points with about 30 seconds left. JDub missed a midrange jumper and Wemby hit a Curry-ish logo 3 to tie it and force double OT. Again, heartbreaker.
- Instant classic game. Heavyweight match. Unfortunately for OKC, they were on the wrong end of it.
- OKC lost Game 1 vs Denver and Game 1 vs Indiana last year. But this makes Game 2 a must win. And they have to steal one of two in San Antonio.
The Rotation: Strength for Strength
Ryan and I vascillated between second-guessing the coach and calling out player performances as we reacted to the loss live. Shai, Chet, and Ajay need to be better. But I'm still hung up on the rotation. Call it P(erk)TSD: my heart will sink if the starters for Game 2 are announced with no changes from Game 1.
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