Spurs should feel incredible about reality facing Thunder

The Spurs and Thunder will face off in San Antonio tonight for Game 3 of one of the most anticipated matchups the NBA has seen in recent memory. The series is tied 1-1, and while OKC fans will have you believe they've steadied the ship, that's not quite the case. The underlying signs in the first two meetings should deeply trouble Oklahoma City. Their opponents have a clear upper hand.

The Spurs have played with one hand tied behind their backs

Stephon Castle has turned the ball over 20 times through two games. Feel how you want about Mitch Johnson's decision to place him in the role of primary ball handler, but he's not going to keep coughing up the rock at that rate. De'Aaron Fox's return should help that. He hasn't been cleared yet, but it's only a matter of time before Swipa gets back into the lineup to alleviate some pressure.

I also believe that Castle will calm himself. He's a smart player. The explosive sophomore understands he can't keep putting his team behind the 8-ball by gifting additional opportunities to the other team. But these things are still just the tip of the iceberg.

Everything OKC does, good or bad, is based on one person: Victor Wembanyama. They are actively trying to avoid him or take him out of every single play, meaning the Spurs have the heaviest swing factor in the series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a star, but the MVP's presence isn't dictating the series in the same overwhelming way Wembanyama's is.

The Thunder are looking for Wemby on every offensive possession, trying to take him out of the play. They're deploying every underhanded tactic in the book to prevent him from establishing himself on the offensive end. Any variation of their game plans starts and ends with the Alien. Teams in control don't usually spend entire games trying to survive one player.

The Thunder are still searching for answers

Despite everything the Thunder have done and changed stylistically about their approach to basketball, San Antonio has either controlled or been right on their heels the entire time. OKC is used to blowing teams out. Every other team in the league would be dead in the water without a primary creator. If they were to lose a second, Mark Daigneault's crew would usually blow them out.

Most teams would have folded under these circumstances already. The Spurs haven't. And if Oklahoma City needed all of this chaos just to split two home games, San Antonio should feel incredible about where this series may be headed.

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