SA can win but they won't barring injuries. imo. It's not Wemby's time quite yet.
If the guards play like they did yesterday, OKC (or any other team, real or imaginary, present or historic) is in trouble. The intensity level was unparalleled. They ran the ball down the Timberwolves' throats
after a conceded basket more often than most NBA teams would run after a steal. It's so, so rare.
I don't know if an adjustment
can be made. This team's level stays the same for the next 7-8 games and they could sweep (or near sweep) Oklahoma. It's highly unlikely this level is repeatable though, but I'm sure the Spurs - BARRING INJURIES - will blow out Minnesota at least once more in this series.
If you watched the game, you've heard Mitch Johnson yelling at his players from the sideline, telling them exactly where to go/to stay? It's like he was training a dog. He got into it so much, he could barely speak in the post game presser. He knows exactly what to do, how to use these hungry, super athletic players (who may be mentally weak/inexperienced
at this present moment), how to make them a very dangerous force. They need to listen, and to learn
fast because the Thunder series may only be 3-4 games away, and
then they'll really need to be able to think for themselves - all 11-12 of them, not just Fox/Champagnie and maybe Castle/Wemby to a degree.
If they go through this learning curve in the next couple of weeks and manage to actually beat the Thunder like I think they can, the following series - with more time off and more time to get up to speed and add new wrinkles - I'm betting a lot of money on the Spurs at -150 or so against the Knicks or Pistons (so I'm kind of rooting for both East teams to win 4-0 and then quickly end the following series, to look more convincing and be only a slight underdog to whoever comes out of the West).
I'll also bet a lot on the Spurs series handicap if/when they lose game one in Oklahoma. Both coaches are incredible, but only one has Victor fuggin Wembanyama. Regular season series were dominated by the Spurs, but after extra adjustments, and due to the 'been there done that' factor I think the Thunder would win (and cover) game 1 at home. The next game however, Wemby (and the guards) play full speed and with confidence, and with minor tweaks and maximum intensity make the Champions look mortal.
