Mitch Johnson must take a page out of Mike Brown's book to save the Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs have six players averaging at least 31.0 minutes per game during the 2026 NBA Finals. Only one other player, Keldon Johnson at 14.8, is averaging at least 10.0. To some degree, it's been a necessary gamble by head coach Mitch Johnson, who's going with who he can trust.

Unfortunately, the New York Knicks have a 3-1 series lead over the Spurs that's been fueled by Mike Brown's willingness to take chances on his reserves. Johnson must follow suit to save the season.

Much like San Antonio, New York has an elite starting lineup and a preferred sixth man. That's inevitably resulted in a vast majority of their lineups featuring some combination of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

What Brown has done differently from Johnson, however, is toe the thin line between relying on who he can trust and giving chances for less prominent reserves to become unsung heroes.

The likes of Jose Alvarado and Landry Shamet have taken center stage for the Knicks during Finals wins. It's a rather shocking development when one considers that they've averaging 25.9 minutes per game this postseason—combined.

Though the Spurs haven't been quite as fortunate on the second unit front, there's a lesson to be learned, however, about how Johnson can position his reserves to play above their usual means.

Mike Brown has trusted his reserves to step up in key spots for Knicks

Perhaps Keldon Johnson isn't going to turn things around during what's been a brutal series. The same could ultimately prove true for Luke Kornet. What the Spurs have done by overburdening their starters, however, is become somewhat predictable.

They're still capable of putting up big numbers and going on tremendous runs, but they've failed to maintain consistency throughout this series due in no small part to how quickly they show their hand.

No matter how talented the top six players may be, the Knicks effectively know how they prefer to play at this stage of the series. Johnson and the Spurs can make adjustments to some degree, but the top six players' strengths, weaknesses, and athletic gifts will remain the same nevertheless.

That's what's made the Knicks' decision to turn to change-of-pace reserves so valuable, as the Spurs have had to adapt to entirely different player profiles as soon as they get comfortable against the starters.

With the Spurs coming off of yet another brutal second half, they need to try something new. That could mean trusting Harrison Barnes or Kelly Olynyk, turning to an up-and-comer like Carter Bryant, or even digging deep with a Jordan McLaughlin or Lindy Waters III.

Unreasonable as some of those suggestions may be, the Knicks have dug deep. The Spurs must now do the same and see if anything sticks to save their season.

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