The Oklahoma City Thunder have been unstoppable in these playoffs, first eliminating the Phoenix Suns with a sweep and then doing the same to the Los Angeles Lakers to advance to the Western Conference Finals without any defeat. However, the next development may be their most challenging news of the postseason.
The San Antonio Spurs currently have a 3-2 series advantage over the Minnesota Timberwolves and with a win, they will reach the conference finals.
Victor Wembanyama scored 27 points, 17 rebounds, and five assists in Game 5. If the Spurs seal the series victory, Oklahoma City might be up against a team that defeated them four times out of five during the regular season.
That 4-1 record the Spurs hold over Oklahoma City this season is something major. The Thunder are the defending champions and, on paper, the league’s strongest team. But San Antonio figured out how to beat them regularly and Wembanyama was the focal point each time.
The other piece of bad news for Oklahoma City is Jalen Williams. He has been sidelined since he suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in the first round against Phoenix and has now missed six straight playoff games with no official return date.
The Thunder have won both series without him, but that was against much weaker opponents.
Why the Spurs Could Be a Real Problem for Oklahoma City
GettySan Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama could be a real issue for Thunder
Portland and Minnesota are very different teams. The Trail Blazers were a physical, big team built around Deni Avdija, and the Spurs had to go five games to get past them. Wembanyama even dealt with a concussion scare during that series. San Antonio did not coast through Round 1.
Then came the Timberwolves, who had just knocked out Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Minnesota is not a soft out. They have Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle and a defense that has given the Spurs real problems all series, pushing it to at least six games.
Oklahoma City swept a Suns team with a losing record and a Lakers team missing Luka Doncic the entire postseason. The gap between what the Thunder have faced and what the Spurs have faced is hard to ignore. San Antonio has been tested. Oklahoma City has not.
How the Thunder Might Need to Slow Wembanyama Down
GettyVictor Wembanyama of Spurs
The very first thing Oklahoma City would require is Chet Holmgren. The only player on their team who has both the size and footwork to physically challenge Wembanyama near the basket is him. The problem is, Wemby is 7-foot-3 and can also shoot from distance. Holmgren would definitely need teammates to be rotating on time since he can’t guard him all alone.
Bringing Williams back would alter the scenario drastically. Besides giving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander another main ball-handler, he also handles wing matchups that are tough without him. Not having Williams means Oklahoma City will be playing a shorter lineup against a length and versatility that can punish you for the entire 48 minutes.
Oklahoma City still remains the favorite no matter which team emerges from the West semifinals. Their defense is the best in the league and Shai has been a top-performer throughout the postseason.
But if it happens to be the Spurs on the other side, then that would be them coming in after having already beaten the Thunder team four times this season. That would definitely be the moment when the idea of Williams getting healthy would no longer be something they can ignore.
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