Spurs shoved their anti-experience mantra down OKC's throat in pivotal Game 7

The Spurs just pulled off a Western Conference Finals win over the defending champions by relying on togetherness. Experience has been the buzzword for doubters during this postseason run, but San Antonio never wavered from their identity. It pushed them beyond everyone's expectations, and knocking off the Oklahoma City Thunder was the cherry on top of an unbelievable season.

Listening to every fan, pundit, and analyst—including those of us here at Air Alamo—you would have thought Victor Wembanyama needed to shoot the ball 30 times for the Spurs to win this game. But that wasn't necessary at all. The only thing that they required was belief in each other and a commitment to playing the kind of basketball fans have been accustomed to for decades.

The Spurs beat OKC by playing together

Most people believe that the best player on the team needs to take over on the offensive end in a game like this, but Wembanyama and company just proved that's not necessarily true.

Seven players in San Antonio's rotation scored in the double digits, and nobody took more than 15 shots. As much as everyone has harped on OKC's depth, they didn't spread the wealth nearly as much. There was no balance on the offensive end at all. They relied on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to take them to the Promised Land, only to discover one soldier can't overtake an army.

Devin Vassell gave a strong quote on experience after San Antonio's Game 5 win at home. "Experience doesn't matter. We're here," the Florida State alumni told Air Alamo. They had just come off a 27-point victory deep in a series the naysayers never believed they'd be in. Their actions on the court spoke louder than the doubt that was bloviating from the critics.

But the Thunder won last year's Larry O'Brien trophy for a reason, and they punched back in Game 6. Once again, the opportunity to fade presented itself. A young team lacking confidence and overwhelmed by the moment would fold in a spot like this. Nobody would blame them either. Hell, most people predicted OKC to win in seven anyway.

But that's not the standard the Spurs held themselves to, so they kept fighting. Specifically, they fought while maintaining their identity. No man is on an island. His brothers are with him, and if they all rely on each other, good things will happen.

We saw it all happen tonight. The Spurs came out swinging but were met with resistance from an established, championship squad. When OKC took the lead, San Antonio could have folded, but they doubled down instead. Now they're on their way to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014. How's that for experience?

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