Di Oklahoma City Thunder don put one hand for NBA Finals trophy, but dem still get work to do as dem face San Antonio Spurs for Game 6 of Western Conference finals. After winning Game 5, Thunder lead di series 3-2, and dem dey one win away from booking dia ticket to di finals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, di back-to-back MVP, don dey put up superstar numbers, but according to am, e no don reach im best yet. After scoring 32 points for Game 5, e talk say: ‘I no don get good game yet.’ Dat kain mindset na wetin separate great players from di ones wey take over playoff runs. If e dey right, di Spurs no don see di best version of am.
For di Spurs side, Victor Wembanyama need to step up. Di young center struggle for Game 5, taking only 15 shots and scoring 20 points. Coach Mitch Johnson talk say: ‘E need to take more dan 15 shots and score more dan 20 points.’ Wembanyama left di arena without talking to reporters after di loss, wey show say e no happy wit im performance.
History dey on Thunder side. Dis na di seventh time dem win Game 5 for series wey tie 2-2, and for all six previous times, dem go on to win di series. For Spurs, dis na di tenth time dem lose Game 5 for 2-2 series, and dem only come back to win once for di previous nine times, wey happen for 2008 conference semifinals against New Orleans Hornets.
Alex Caruso don become key player for Thunder. Di 32-year-old role player don average more dan 10 points for dis series, wey be first time for im playoff career. Im 31 points for Game 1 na im playoff career high, and im 22 points for Game 5 na second highest. Caruso rank second for Oklahoma City for points for di conference finals.
For Game 6, Thunder go rely on dia depth and role players, wey don step up for absence of Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. But to finish off formidable foe like Spurs, dem probably go need MVP-caliber performance from Gilgeous-Alexander. Di Spurs go need Wembanyama to be dominant force for both offense and defense to force Game 7 for Oklahoma City.
