Spurs better dial the nasty up to 11 to eliminate Thunder in Game 7

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are preparing for their first Game 7 battle as a young unit tomorrow night. Their opponent is led by the two-time MVP. The Thunder are deep and well-coached, but they won't survive this do-or-die meeting if San Antonio brings the fire. I don't mean some abstract description of energy, either. I'm talking about attitude. The Silver and Black are much better when they show it.

The Spurs must play the role of bully all night

What is a bully? Merriam-Webster defines it as one who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable. Just so we're clear, that's exactly how I'm suggesting the Spurs treat the Thunder Saturday night. Because they've already done it.

Snatching Oklahoma City's chain is a surefire way to get them to turn their fierce temperament into indifference. San Antonio should be intent on showing off their superior strength, quickness, and athleticism from the opening tip. Then they need to let OKC's players hear about it, as Devin Vassell did to Chet Holmgren Thursday night.

You see, that's the real difference between these two ball clubs—besides the skyscraping Frenchman, of course. OKC has a tendency to display a nonchalant demeanor during intense moments. The Spurs are the exact opposite. They're led by a man who just recently gave a notable quote about emotions to reporters.

"I refuse to carry the burden of hiding my emotions," Wemby said. That philosophy can manifest in heroic ways, like letting out a vicious roar after posterizing an opponent on an offensive run. It can also materialize controversially. His refusal to speak to the media after the Game 5 loss would qualify. The same thing that makes you laugh can make you cry, though. That's true in several walks of life.

Oklahoma City doesn't like it when their opponent can ugly up the game more than they can. They prefer to operate from a position of control, and San Antonio has repeatedly taken that comfort away by making these possessions feel personal. As long as the refs let the guys play, physicality and emotions play in the Spurs' favor.

The Spurs' pressure has forced Thunder to crack several times

To keep the waterworks at bay late tonight, the Spurs must lean into the identity they forged through the battles fought this season. Teams got physical with them pretty quickly once they realized the talent was ready for the next step. Instead of backing down, they played with more force, becoming the aggressors. That version of this team has pushed the defending champions into the deep end.

Game 7s are often decided by execution, but they're also decided by conviction. Both teams know the plays. Both teams know the counters. The difference may come down to who is willing to impose their personality on the game.

If the Spurs spend 48 minutes reminding the Thunder how uncomfortable this matchup has been from the start, OKC's reign may end before another banner ever goes up in Paycom Center.

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