The San Antonio Spurs came up short in Game One of their NBA Finals series against the New York Knicks, and people are starting to question Head Coach Mitch Johnson. Rookie guard Dylan Harper had it going for San Antonio, but was pulled out of the game for guard De’Aaron Fox in the fourth quarter.
The Harper fourth-quarter benching isn’t odd since playing Fox is the usual rotation that Johnson runs. It is fair to question, though. The moment Harper sat is when the whole game flipped, and the Knicks ran off with the win. It’s an interesting way for a Finals game to end, as all the momentum switched with a substitution.
Fox is not to blame for all of this; the whole team just couldn’t stop Jalen Brunson the entire fourth quarter. Fox certainly didn’t help their cause; he shot a whopping 3 for 13 from the field, including 0 for 4 from behind the arc, while his running mate, Harper, shot 6 for 10 from the floor. Not only did the rookie outplay the veteran, but Harper also did it in ten fewer minutes, which also begs the question: Should San Antonio switch up the starters for Game Two? One bad game doesn’t mean the Spurs should make a drastic switch, especially going against something that has worked all season long.
Replacing a rookie, Harper, who usually comes off the bench for a former all-star in Fox, in principle makes sense. Game conditions, though, should ultimately trump all. Harper was hot, and Johnson should have known to hold off on the sub.
Fox has also battled an ankle sprain in the past few games. His performance has been affected as he lacks the burst that we have become accustomed to seeing. A large part of his game is being able to blow past defenders with his quickness and get to the rim. He’s been very limited, though, since the injury occurred in the Conference Finals. San Antonio shouldn’t overthink what it decides to do; the Spurs don’t have time for that, not in the Finals.
Disagree? Join the Stadium Rant iPhone App open sports community and tell us.
A lineup change for Game Two is highly unlikely, but one thing is for sure: if sticking to the normal rotation costs them a second game in a row, who knows what Johnson will do. Don’t be surprised if we see more minutes from Harper if he continues to excel. He provided needed fearlessness for San Antonio. Coming from a rookie, on the biggest stage, is unprecedented and could be a game-changer if Johnson modifies his usual coaching routine.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
