Spurs and Thunder don reach Game 7 for Western Conference Finals. One team go face New York Knicks for NBA Finals. Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dey ready for battle.
Steve Jones talk say, ‘This na one of the most tremendous back-and-forth playoff series we don see for a while.’ He say the series na runs, with each team dey fight back until the other beat am into submission. Nobody don grab control.
Ben Rohrbach say we dey watch the future of the league. Gilgeous-Alexander Thunder dey try for back-to-back championships, and Wembanyama Spurs fit hold the NBA for some time. Both teams go compete for Western Conference supremacy for another decade.
Dan Devine talk say the story of the series na how San Antonio point-of-attack armada, plus Wembanyama back-line menace, don break OKC half-court offense. The Thunder don score more than one point per possession for half-court three times and finish below that mark three times. If Gilgeous-Alexander and Mark Daigneault no fit find way to generate something against Spurs set defense for Game 7, Thunder repeat bid go end.
Kelly Iko say the Thunder dey play dangerous game. San Antonio floor spacing and Oklahoma City compact defense don produce odd results. Both teams don concede corner 3s; one team dey shoot less dan 30% on such shots, the other dey shoot 40%. Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie, the Spurs two best shooters, never shoot better than 34% combined for any game. If the basketball gods even things out, that fit happen for Game 7.
Devine also talk about Stephon Castle, 21 years old, dey average more than 18 points and nearly eight assists and five rebounds per game for his first conference finals. He dey spend 100% of his floor time as primary point-of-attack defender on the two-time MVP and lock that man for a nightmare cage.
Iko say regardless of outcome, this series don lay groundwork for a fascinating tug-of-war for the Western Conference for at least next five years. The Thunder go stumble into financial decisions, the Spurs still years away. Dylan Harper stellar play spark questions about lead guard roles.
Rohrbach talk say the beauty of Game 7 na say we no know the most underrated storyline, but one random hero go emerge. He mention Kelly Olynyk 26 points for Game 7 of 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals and Grant Williams 27 points for Game 7 of 2022 second round. Jared McCain, wey don get two breakout performances, fit be line for another.
Jones say Game 7s na weird. There’s pressure, desire and effort wey combine to make the most important game feel like oddity. The OKC bench don produce at high level. Battle of Isaiah Hartenstein increasing height on his floaters against Wembanyama lunges dey on the table. Spurs guards and wings no dey shy away from moment. If De’Aaron Fox get the game of his life, or Lu Dort start hitting 3s, or Harrison Barnes wey never lose Game 7 and na his birthday, anything fit happen.
Iko predict SGA. He say SGA don have underwhelming series, and with Wembanyama and Spurs ascending, the onus dey on the MVP to bounce back. San Antonio don project to win 45 games, Oklahoma City nearly 20 more. The Thunder supposed to be here, the Spurs ahead of schedule. Gilgeous-Alexander don talk about legacy, and Game 7 no be must-win but close.
Devine also pick SGA. He say if Big Vic no get big Game 7, the takeaway go be say he almost ready. If Shai no get, after series wey him don dey bottled up, sharp knives go come out.
Jones pick Wemby. He say Wemby must be assertive on offensive end and deliver reminders of why OKC don work so hard to move him around the board on defensive end. When his impact dey muted, the punches from Spurs no land as hard.
Rohrbach pick SGA. Given injuries to Ajay Mitchell and Jalen Williams wey out for Game 7, e go dey on SGA to drive great offense against San Antonio defense wey don have success against am. Wemby go be great defensively, and Spurs get more ways to score even with De’Aaron Fox limited by ankle injury.
For Finals prediction, Rohrbach pick Spurs. He say Thunder fit beatable with Mitchell and Williams hampered, even if dem get defensive pit bulls to harness Jalen Brunson. Spurs fit field ferocious backcourt defense with Wembanyama behind am.
Devine pick Thunder. He say Knicks don beat Spurs twice for three tries dis season, but nobody get answer for Wembanyama. New York combination of wing versatility and frontcourt size profile better against San Antonio, though Mitchell Robinson broken finger looms large.
Jones pick Thunder. He say Thunder defensive personnel fit poke at what Knicks want to do. Dem get multiple players to throw at Brunson and Towns. Gilgeous-Alexander go enjoy attacking Brunson or KAT after dealing with Wembanyama. Knicks go trust against Spurs more than Thunder wey don get past biggest issue.
Iko pick Thunder. He say Thunder get too many plug-and-play defensive options to interrupt Knicks offensive groove. Dem get enough physicality to deal with Karl-Anthony Towns. Forcing New York to work backward fit cause Knicks to unravel quicker.
Rohrbach pick Thunder. He say Spurs fit be better equipped to challenge Knicks, but e trust experience of defending champions and home-court advantage for Game 7. History show nobody at age 22 dey ready to take over NBA.
Devine pick Thunder. He pick OKC before season, at start of playoffs, and before dis series. He go stick with dem to grind out Game 7 at home.
Iko pick Spurs. He say momentum don teeter back and forth, but San Antonio don figure out how to slow down SGA, and Jalen Williams wey suppose be next man up no dey play.
Jones pick Thunder. He say dem never lose Game 7 for that building for Oklahoma City. Spurs run don great, but dat city and building dey lift the team to different heights.
