Mitch Johnson and Victor Wembanyama must wear Spurs' loss on their shoulders

The Spurs were just blown out for the first time this postseason, 123-108 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City took a 2-1 command of the series, winning two straight against San Antonio.

There are plenty of reasons for the loss. The bench didn't provide enough, injuries are becoming increasingly difficult to overcome, and role players didn't offer much support. But when you get down to the root of the issue, Victor Wembanyama and Mitch Johnson belong at the front of the line.

I respect Wemby for taking the blame for the loss. Everyone should. He's right, but the key is understanding how to make his teammates better. The Alien must remind everyone exactly why his game is described as being "out of this world" and dominate OKC.

The Spurs didn't play through their superstar enough

Wemby should be averaging 25 shots per game in this series, but he only took 15 of them in Game 3. De'Aaron Fox is injured. Dylan Harper is injured.

There's no reason the Spurs should be trying to run their ordinary offense like those guys are 100%, expecting them to get downhill and finish consistently against the kind of pressure OKC deploys. When circumstances change, teams must change with them.

They gave the team everything they had. Fox went 7/14 for 15 points. Harper scored 6 after only playing 17 minutes. He was clearly still hampered by his injury. Wembanyama gave San Antonio 26, but he shot the ball 15 times. As the superstar of the team with injured co-stars, Vic must demand that the offense run through him on almost every possession—and it must happen in the paint.

When co-stars are compromised, superstars have to become greedy. Demanding touches, calling for the ball, establishing position repeatedly, and forcing the game to bend around you becomes part of the job description. Wembanyama needed to put his fingerprints on every possession, especially around the rim.

Mitch Johnson and Wemby needed to force the issue

Victor was averaging 20 rebounds per game entering Game 3, and he left with only four. That's not what imposing your will looks like. Oklahoma City is not equipped to keep a nimble 7'4" center with Stretch Armstrong length off the boards if he fights for positioning like a berth to the NBA Finals is on the line. San Antonio needed his presence in the middle, and it wasn't there.

Coach Johnson deserves just as much responsibility. If Wembanyama wasn't naturally taking over, then the coaching staff needed to force the issue. Feed him in the post, hunt switches, run pin downs, etc. Just keep putting pressure on the paint until Oklahoma City proves they can survive it. If you don't, you're doing OKC's job for them.

As smart as the Silver and Black often prove themselves to be as a team, they've often left too much meat on the bone because they don't actively seek to attack favorable matchups on every single possession. That's on Coach Johnson. Not demanding the burden that comes with being the superstar while your co-stars are hurt?. That's on Wemby.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow