Spurs' biggest flaw was on full display during crushing NBA Cup Finals loss

The Spurs' over-a-month-long NBA Cup journey, full of excitement, drama, and thrills, finally came to an end Tuesday night in Las Vegas. After knocking off the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder en route to the NBA Cup finals, the battle-tested squad was ready to fight against the New York Knicks. Well, that last statement may have been a lie.

The Spurs and Knicks gruesomely battled it out for four quarters, but it was New York who came out on top. In the high-intensity match, the team that wanted it more would come out alive, and that would be the New York Knicks. Despite 19 offensive rebounds from San Antonio, their opponents pulled down more of them (23). It's becoming a trend that needs fixing.

The Spurs must stay consistent on both sides of the ball

You would have thought the Spurs' efforts on the offensive glass would have translated into a successful night on the boards in general. Surprisingly, that was not the case. It appeared that the Silver and Black were more inclined to pressure the Knicks' glass than their own. It's a phenomenon I can't exactly explain.

Stephon Castle and Luke Kornet piled on nine combined offensive rebounds, while Keldon Johnson and Dylan Harper each notched three. You have to applaud their efforts to steal possessions, but this same group was the one that allowed the Knicks to take over the game on the other end.

During the match, the Spurs had absolutely no answer to Mitchell Robinson. Even with Victor Wembanyama in the game, who is the Spurs' best rebounder, the Knicks center was unstoppable. In just 18 minutes of game time, the seven-footer popped off for a whopping 10 offensive rebounds. This is simply inexcusable.

Rebounding has become a huge concern for the Spurs

Increasingly concerning, this case was by no means a one-off mistake. The Spurs began the season as one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA, but quickly fell off the rails as the season progressed. The Spurs currently sit 21st in total rebounds and saw their defensive rebounding percentage plummet without Wembanyama.

We have learned that this Spurs team is willing to show up when it matters and give their all on defense and in the opposing team's paint, so there is no excuse for them to give up so many offensive rebounds. It is simply sloppy basketball, and Mitch Johnson must hammer this point into their brains.

If the Spurs want to contend and live up to their newfound expectations, they must improve in this category. The Silver and Black could have easily won this game had they not allowed the Knicks' relentless offensive rebounding. Now, because of their looseness, the squad will head back home with their heads hanging low.