Spurs’ hopes to beat Thunder ride on De’Aaron Fox correcting major struggle

The Spurs are coming off a monumental win over the Timberwolves, but they can’t celebrate for too long because they have a quick turnaround before they take on the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.

This series will be San Antonio's toughest test yet, and they’ll need everyone to be at their best to emerge victorious. A lot will be riding on De’Aaron Fox specifically, which means he’ll have to overcome the weakness that has plagued him throughout the year: inconsistency.

San Antonio could find themselves leaning on Fox heavily against OKC

The Thunder are known for their out-of-this-world perimeter defense. They pressure the ball ferociously and feed off the turnovers they force. San Antonio’s guards are going to be pushed to their limits in this matchup.

As good as Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper have been, despite all the expectations they continue to shatter, it’s reasonable to assume they may struggle more against Oklahoma City. Even the league’s brightest stars have dimmed in the face of the Thunder, and Castle and Harper haven’t seen anything quite like a playoff series against a defense like this before.

If Castle and Harper’s inexperience, shooting volatility, or turnover issues start to show, the Spurs will need De’Aaron Fox to be their crutch. But Fox will have to tighten himself up if that becomes the case.

Fox must find consistency in his shooting and overall performance

De’Aaron Fox has been one of the most inconsistent players in the whole league during the playoffs. Every good game he has is followed by a poor one. Simply put, that won’t fly against the Thunder.

If Castle and/or Harper dip below par, the veteran Fox must play like an All-Star on a nightly basis. That shouldn’t be a tall ask for him, but based on his recent performance, it kind of is.

The shooting and scoring departments are where Fox has especially failed to produce reliably. If he can’t hit his jumpers against the Thunder, he’s going to look bad, because they’ll be content leaving him open. It’s already likely they’ll sag off Castle and Harper; the same thing can’t happen with Fox, or San Antonio's offense could sink. Victor Wembanyama won’t be able to score over multiple defenders every play.

Fox is an All-Star talent; that’s undeniable, even in the midst of a rough patch. He’s proven too much in this league to be counted out right now. But with great power comes great responsibility. Swipa has been a leader in many ways for the Spurs this season, but now it’s time for him to really lead by example on the court.

San Antonio is capable of overthrowing the Thunder and winning a championship. De’Aaron Fox will have to be up to the task for that to happen. Here’s hoping he can prove skeptics wrong once and for all.

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