The Spurs took physical basketball lessons

You can start a match with a 16-0 lead, then lead by 19 points and end up losing. Spurs have had a bitter experience with this, beaten to the wire by Wukov more experienced at the end of the match. Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox had match points, but for Mitch Johnson, his team didn’t necessarily deserve the win.

“We have to respond physically. There’s nothing to justify saying we’re off the line or can’t compete. Creating passing lanes, getting rebounds, going through screens… Those are probably the biggest physical aspects of the game that we weren’t good enough at tonight and they made us pay for it.” analyzes the coach of Spurs. “There’s a mental aspect, of course, but their physical dimension is a real strength. I don’t think it’s an area where we’ve really dominated: you just have to respond with the same physical intensity.”

The best illustration of this analysis is Julius Randle’s defense of Victor Wembanyama in “money time”. The Wolves’ interior suffocated the Frenchman with his movement, his ability to absorb shots, and to keep the Frenchman from getting close to the circle.

“What makes them tough to deal with is their ability to raise their voice when they’re in a bit of a pinch or when we’re in a pinch” ally Mitch Johnson. “They’re a very tough team to beat, and clearly they beat us in the fourth quarter.”

Six minutes without a basket

While the Spurs entered the final period with a 14-point lead (85-71) and appeared to be in a good position to win their third straight, they would go on a major drought with nearly six minutes without a single basket. Physically shaken, the Spurs would score just 18 points in the final 12 minutes, 5 of 20 shooting, including 1 of 8 from 3-point range.

“The ball stagnated, we missed shots. But the most disappointing thing was again the physical dimension, even in the attack. They increased the intensity, got us out of position. On several occasions we were not on the same wavelength between the passer and the receiver, whether it was timing or creation.” pity Johnson. “You have to give them credit for that: it’s largely down to their aggressiveness. They looked for contact in actions, and we have to be able to play despite that, match their physical impact, and keep our composure and control in attack. We lacked that tonight, mentally and physically.”