Julian Champagnie sends a message every Spurs fan can get behind

The Spurs are right back at it, getting in some reps as they await the results of the Nuggets vs. Timberwolves series. But some players and fans aren't excited about the lengthy wait in between and seem pretty anxious to get the second round kicked off.

I'm sure his teammates share this sentiment. It's indicative of this team's collective mindset. The Spurs aren't scared of this stage, and they want all the smoke that comes with it. They're like a boxer calling out a desired opponent, working with a sense of urgency to face off against their next competitor.

It's hard not to see Julian Champagnie's perspective

I get why Champagnie and his teammates feel this way. San Antonio is riding hot right now, ending their first postseason series since 2019 in a gentleman's sweep. When there's momentum like this, why stop? You don't want to enter the next round rusty due to the wait in between.

Another hypothesis of mine is that the Spurs' young core of Wemby, Harper, Castle, and others is eager to prove that they can compete on this stage at the highest level. They have a chip on their shoulder as they've been responding to critics and subverting expectations all year. There has to be some anxiousness to speed this wait up and prove they can keep this train rolling.

Luckily, since this team is so competitive and operates within a strong culture, they shouldn't have to worry too much about losing their fire throughout this waiting period. Mitch Johnson has no issue keeping his group well-motivated, so fans shouldn't worry too much about them dropping their competitive edge.

The Spurs should actually embrace the wait

While Champagnie's perspective is understandable, the truth is this: there's a reason why it's called a "rest advantage." The Spurs have ample time to practice and game plan for both possible opponents and will also enter this next round with significantly less fatigue.

Regardless of who wins, either the Nuggets or the Wolves will be heading into the second round resembling Rocky after his first fight with Apollo. For Denver, advancing means pulling off a historically rare 3-1 comeback. For the Wolves, they'll have to face the Spurs without Anthony Edwards in the first few games.

San Antonio's rest advantage puts them in much better shape to compete at a high level at the start of the second round. They'll be healthier, and their legs will be fresher. Things like this seem minuscule in playoff prediction conversations, but they go such a long way.

So I get it, this young group is feening and can't wait another minute for another playoff challenge, but rest like this is hard to come by. They should embrace it to the fullest as it gives them the upper hand.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow