It’s possible to be too calm. That’s something Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs need to realise before Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Having lost the opener to the New York Knicks, the Spurs look like they need to change the tempo up a bit, writes Emmet Ryan
After winning the Western Conference Finals, Victor Wembanyama was very emotional. Throughout Game 1 of the NBA Finals, he was far too calm. Wemby wasn’t the only one as the entire San Antonio Spurs roster had the rare look of a side that needed the occasion to get to them a bit more.
The result, aside from the obvious defeat, was that the New York Knicks were able to play the game they wanted. Even while trailing by 13 points at one stage, the Knicks appeared to have control of the tempo. San Antonio needs to disrupt things a lot more in Game 2.
Force some aggression
The dominant thread on commentary throughout the game was the Knicks needing to be mindful of Karl-Anthony Towns. They couldn’t let him get in foul trouble early. Well they didn’t have to worry about that.
Towns was able to play a patient defensive game, standing off Victor Wembanyama until support came on D. The Spurs seemed happy with the extra time on the ball but failed to punish the Knicks for such a light-touch defensive game. The result was that switches were a doddle for the visitors.
Towns meanwhile didn’t pick up his second foul until after the half-time break. He entered the final quarter with just three. That simply won’t do for San Antonio. They need to force him to be aggressive, to bite on Wemby, and create openings for creativity while risking fouls.
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Letting the game come a bit too much
The San Antonio Spurs definitely weren’t overawed by the occasion. If anything, they weren’t awed enough. Victor Wembanyama was far from the only culprit here but it was clear that he and the rest of his side were too happy to let the game come to them.
Not forcing it is one thing but the Spurs played such a calm game that it enabled the Knicks to wholly control the tempo. When San Antonio led 63-50, granted with an ocean of time left, there was no reason for New York to panic.
Jalen Brunson and pals could see that San Antonio wasn’t going in for the kill when up big. While their own shots weren’t falling there and then, the flow was still at their discretion. The deficit was quickly wiped away and they entered the final quarter on level terms.
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A punch in the nose
That’s what the San Antonio Spurs have got to both dish out and demand the Knicks give them in response in Game 2. The NBA Finals are a crucible yet it feels like New York are just getting what they want at present. Yes there were the fresher team, only four games in the preceding 23 days, but it wasn’t like they had to stretch themselves physically or mentally in Game 1.
Victor Wembanyama has to show another, more complex, layer. It’s not so much forcing himself into the game as it is forcing the game to come to him on his schedule. The Knicks haven’t needed to gamble yet, he has to change that.
It starts with demanding Karl-Anthony Towns just plain bring it to him in the next outing. Towns is a stellar player yet Wemby needs Towns to bring his physical best in order to force a more aggressive game from the Knicks. If the Spurs can do that, then they can reclaim control.
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