Spurs have a massive Thunder problem that is quietly costing them the series

All things considered, the San Antonio Spurs heading home with a 1-1 series split is a huge win. Nevertheless, they are losing a crucial battle against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

San Antonio is among the deeper teams in the NBA, but many wouldn't suspect it in Game 1. OKC played 12 players while the Spurs played nine. 

In fact, all of their starters played at least 44 minutes in that double-overtime game. With star De'Aaron Fox missing both games in Oklahoma City and now Dylan Harper seemingly injured, the Spurs are having to dig deeper than they have previously in the playoffs. 

The Thunder's depth is quietly swinging the series against the Spurs

OKC is uniquely qualified to play both big and small. Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein allow them to play big while players such as Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, Jared McCain, and Carson Wallace allow them to play small. 

San Antonio rarely plays double-big lineups and has yet to do so in this series. With no Fox and, later, no Harper, Coach Mitch Johnson was forced to get creative during Game 2.

He dusted off Jordan McLaughlin, who played reasonably well. We also had a Harrison Barnes sighting, and he hit a big three during San Antonio's comeback bid in the fourth. 

Not only that, but Keldon Johnson was actually a part of the closing lineup for the first time in this series.

The Spurs are deep, but the Thunder are deeper

On paper, the Spurs should be as deep as OKC is. In reality that's not exactly true. San Antonio relies heavily on their three-point guard trio and seldom actually plays a fourth guard. 

Barnes has barely played in the postseason, and Johnson's and Luke Kornet's roles have decreased too. 

Assuming Fox is back for Game 3 and Harper and Thunder star Jalen Williams are out, San Antonio still runs into a depth problem. Especially if Fox is on a minutes restriction and Castle gets into foul trouble—two real possibilities. 

That puts more pressure on Victor Wembanyama and even Devin Vassell, who logged a staggering 51 minutes in Game 1, to step up. Hopefully, both Fox and Harper will be healthy for Game 3. If not, the Thunder's depth could swing the series in their favor. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow