Spurs just fired a major warning shot OKC, Denver, and Minnesota can’t ignore

The Spurs smacked the Trail Blazers in what should have been a desperation game for the visiting ball club. The Silver and Black sent a message the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves can’t afford to ignore: you better not count on experience to save you from what’s coming.

San Antonio’s entire roster has shown up to the dance, and if the West’s real contenders thought playoff seasoning would be the equalizer, they may need another plan.

The playoff Spurs are the same as the regular-season Spurs

Six players scored in double-digits to put Portland away in a gentleman's sweep. This is the game where the team on the brink of elimination is supposed to come out and play with desperation. It's do-or-die for them, and usually, you see those squads play with their hair on fire to start the game.

Whether they can maintain it or not is one thing, but it's common for potential elimination games to start that way. It wasn't the case tonight. The Spurs came out with more aggressive energy, and once they took hold of the game, it was never really in question. The Trail Blazers made a late run, but that was more about the flow of how basketball works than a real push to win the game.

De'Aaron Fox showed up as the closer he was brought in to be and ended the night with 21 points and 9 assists. He caught a lot of flak for what many, including myself, thought were mediocre performances in the first few meetings in the series. When it comes down to it, he showed up when it was closing time in the last two games. He did his part, and that's the theme of this team.

The Spurs' depth and dominance are still shining in the playoffs

Let's not forget what the Spurs were doing post-All-Star break. They had the best plus/minus in the league because they were beating the crap out of everyone. That trend continued in this series. The only close game was the one Portland won. All four of San Antonio's wins came by double digits, and different players exploded at different times, making them impossible to guard, just like they were through 82.

Alamo City got 19 points from Julian Champagnie, and not a single Spurs fan is surprised by his red-hot shooting. He's been doing it all year. He and Stephon Castle were on fire to start the game; both players barely missed a bucket. Victor Wembanyama didn't even really have to participate much on the offense end.

The Alien was the monster we all know him to be on defense—that’s how you end up with six blocks. The Spurs are a tough, skilled, unified team—that’s how you end up with a gentleman’s sweep in your first playoff series. Age is no object.

So, if the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves were waiting for San Antonio’s inexperience to make them crack under postseason pressure, they'd better think again.

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