 |
|
 |
||
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|||
| Prairie View MFA Agri Services - CLICK - MFA CONNECT |
|
Printable Page
05/27 16:05 CDT Spurs, Wembanyama will be facing elimination in Game 6 of West
finals vs. defending champion Thunder
Spurs, Wembanyama will be facing elimination in Game 6 of West finals vs.
defending champion Thunder
SAN ANTONIO (AP) --- Victor Wembanyama was quiet on the floor in Game 5 of the
Western Conference finals, and silent afterward.
The San Antonio Spurs surely are hoping to see a different version of him on
Thursday.
Game 6 of the West title series awaits, with the Spurs --- facing elimination
for the first time in these playoffs --- set to play host to the defending
champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Oklahoma City leads the series 3-2 and would
have home-court advantage if a Game 7 is necessary on Saturday.
"I think we'll be fine," Spurs forward Julian Champagnie said. "I think we'll
be ready to play next game. Obviously, it's a win-or-go-home situation, so I'm
100% sure everybody's going to come to play."
That would include Wembanyama, who was held to a series-low 20 points in
Tuesday's Game 5 loss at Oklahoma City. He didn't speak with reporters after
that game, and the NBA issued him a warning on Wednesday for not fulfilling
media obligations.
The Spurs would likely prefer Wembanyama does his talking on the floor
Thursday. Getting him more than 15 shot attempts will be a priority, Spurs
coach Mitch Johnson said.
"That's probably the easiest (adjustment) in terms of just surface-level
stuff," Johnson said. "He'll definitely need to take more shots."
There are all sorts of technical and highly nuanced adjustments that get made
over the course of a playoff series, especially a back-and-forth playoff series
like these West finals have been.
Game plans can seem quite elaborate. But for the Thunder, the plan going into a
possible closeout game like Game 6 against the Spurs couldn't come with a
simpler plan.
"We've got to understand what's going on," Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
said.
Here's what's going on: The Spurs will be fighting for their playoff lives,
with a home crowd behind them hoping to see them extend their season for at
least one more game.
A back-and-forth series --- San Antonio won Game 1, Oklahoma City won Games 2
and 3, the Spurs won Game 4 and the Thunder prevailed in Game 5 --- has now
reached the must-win phase for San Antonio.
"We've been great when we're desperate all year," Spurs guard Stephon Castle
said. "I can't wait to see how we respond."
Closeout games The Thunder are 2-0 in closeout chances this year, winning Game 4s on the road in both Round 1 against Phoenix and Round 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers. They were 4-2 in closeout chances last season on the way to the NBA title. The Spurs won elimination games in each of their last two playoff series before this season, but ultimately wound up losing both of those series.
The odds Oddsmakers evidently expect a Game 7. They've made San Antonio a 3.5-point favorite for Game 6, which means the series would go back to Oklahoma City for a deciding game. The Thunder are still favored to win the NBA title. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Closeout games The Thunder are 2-0 in closeout chances this year, winning Game 4s on the road in both Round 1 against Phoenix and Round 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers. They were 4-2 in closeout chances last season on the way to the NBA title. The Spurs won elimination games in each of their last two playoff series before this season, but ultimately wound up losing both of those series.
The odds Oddsmakers evidently expect a Game 7. They've made San Antonio a 3.5-point favorite for Game 6, which means the series would go back to Oklahoma City for a deciding game. The Thunder are still favored to win the NBA title. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
