Spurs must steal page from Gregg Popovich's legendary playbook to topple Thunder

Following a frankly embarrassing Game 3 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs must go back to the drawing board. The Spurs got cooked defensively with their strategy of doubling star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander backfiring spectacularly.

Not only did he burn them as a scorer but also as a passer, dropping 26 points and 12 assists. San Antonio can't have him do both. Especially with no Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren struggling offensively.

Instead, they must steal a page out of Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich's playbook.

Spurs must steal a page out of Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich's playbook

Former Spurs coach Greg Popovich famously defended the vaunted Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire pick-and-roll straight up during the 2005 Western Conference Finals. In doing so, his team stayed at home on shooters, and shut down everyone else.

It worked, with the Spurs tiring out both Nash and Stoudemire en route to a five-game series win. You know where I'm going with this.

The Spurs should single-cover Gilgeous-Alexander, particularly with Victor Wembanyama on the floor, and stay at home on everyone else. It worked in Game 1.

The Spurs seldom sent help, yet forced turnovers when Gilgeous-Alexander kicked out on drives instead of going at Wembanyama.

Tiring out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best strategy for the Spurs

By single-covering him, it would help keep players such as Thunder big man Jaylin Williams and guard Jared McCain from going off. If Gilgeous-Alexander drops 40 points, so be it, so long as other Thunder players don't get hot too.

If Williams and Ajay Mitchell both miss Game 4 and Holmgren continues to struggle, the math could work out in the Spurs' favor. I'll tell you what won't: letting Gilgeous-Alexander cook the Spurs and also having his teammates take target practice from three.

Therefore, for the Spurs to beat OKC, they should dust off a Popovich classic. Committing only one defender to Gilgeous-Alexander, staying at home on shooters, and daring him to beat San Antonio one-on-one has worked before. It can work again.

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