San Antonio enters Sunday’s Western Conference Finals Game 4 against Oklahoma City trailing 2-1, but the club can still draw on both veteran know-how and its franchise rookie.
Harrison Barnes’ playoff perspective
Forward Harrison Barnes, who owns 85 postseason appearances and a championship ring from Golden State’s 2015 run, sees parallels between that Warriors comeback and the current series. “However many games the series goes, are we going to play to our standard when we look back at those games?” he told The Athletic. “The last few games, can we have said that? No.”
Managing Wembanyama’s minutes
Rookie center Victor Wembanyama averaged just over 29 minutes per game in the regular season and nearly 33 in the first two playoff rounds. Through three games against the Thunder he is logging 41.7 minutes, during which San Antonio is plus-21. The team has been outscored by 38 points when he sits. Even so, head coach Mitch Johnson said further extending the 7-4 star is not on the table. “Him fresh or somewhat fresh is still the best,” Johnson told the Associated Press. “We don’t want to sacrifice our style of play and the identity that we’ve been building since October.”
An ESPN piece by Baxter Holmes highlights how Wembanyama’s rim protection alters opponents’ decision-making. “They’ve got a menu in their head … and driving to the rim is just not on the menu,” an Eastern Conference analytics staffer said.
Fox playing through pain
Guard De’Aaron Fox, sidelined for Games 1 and 2 with a high ankle sprain, will suit up again Sunday. “I don’t feel great, but I’m able to play,” he told reporters, acknowledging he remains limited.
Long-term roster questions
Outside observers have wondered how Fox’s maximum-salary deal meshes with emerging guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, yet league sources told The Athletic neither the Spurs nor Fox’s representatives are worried. The franchise has previously balanced similar situations, bringing Manu Ginóbili off the bench for much of his Hall-of-Fame career.
Game 4 tips off Sunday at Frost Bank Center.
Source: Hoops Rumors
