Spurs must prepare for inevitable blitz from NBA's biggest threat in revenge game

The first matchup between the Spurs and Thunder didn't disappoint. It went down as an instant classic, and fans are hoping for more of the same in their second meeting of the season, two days before their round three Christmas Day clash. But I have a feeling there's more bubbling under the surface for OKC in this one. They're going to be out for blood.

The defending NBA champs wanted to win that Emirates NBA Cup Semifinal. You can tell they were pissed off by how the players acted as they walked off the court in defeat, yelling their way through the tunnels. Alex Caruso was on Twitter after the game, complaining about the officiating. You don't usually see that. They just lost to the Timberwolves, and you didn't hear a peep from them.

That's because Oklahoma City recognizes the threat in San Antonio. They hear all the talk of the emerging monster in South Texas, and they want to quell any notion that their reign will be a short one. They failed. That hurt them. That's a championship team, though, so you have to expect them to respond.

OKC will bring the intensity from the beginning

The Thunder are used to running teams off the court. They couldn't do that to the Spurs. In fact, the Silver and Black took a big punch from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company in the first quarter, ending the period with an 11-point deficit. They bounced right back in the second when Victor Wembanyama walked on the floor. That's another part of the game they'll resent.

This is a young group. You can bet a year's salary that some, if not all, of their players are on the internet. They heard everyone making fun of them for seeming scared to shoot the ball in the paint when Vic got in the game. Add that fuel to the fire that burns in the heart of a champion.

Unfortunately for them, the Spurs aren't going to care about any of that. First, let's be clear: the great equalizer for this game will be whether Wemby plays or not.

He showed up on the injury report as "QUESTIONABLE" for the game as they manage his calf injury. He has not had a setback, but the recent schedule has been vicious. They've traveled a ton and had very few days off. But let's assume the San Antonio franchise superstar suits up. It's more fun that way.

So, as I was saying, Wemby and the gang won't care about OKC's angst one bit. They're hungry, and the roster is full of dawgs. Buckling down to blow out Washington in a classic trap game is a testament to their mental fortitude this season. This team is focused. They're taking things one game at a time, and every night, they bring the fight—but the big games get special attention.

In the first game of the year, Vic goes for 40 when the team needed firepower against the Nuggets without Wemby and Stephon Castle in the lineup, Devin Vassell goes off for 35, and the list goes on. This team has a bunch of big-game performers, and you should expect them to show up again, no matter what the Thunder is feeling.