The San Antonio Spurs just suffered only their fourth loss since the beginning of February. It was their third one against the Denver Nuggets, and this time it was against Nikola Jokic and the backups. This loss is more devastating than people may initially believe.
The Path Is More Difficult
If the Spurs had won, that would have moved Denver to the fourth spot. That would have likely set up a second-round matchup with either the Los Angeles Lakers or the Minnesota Timberwolves. San Antonio is 3-1 against Los Angeles and 3-1 against Minnesota.
That second-round matchup would have been considerably easier. Now, the Spurs’ most likely second-round opponent is the Nuggets. Denver is 3-1 against San Antonio and possesses the one neutralizer to Victor Wembanyama’s defense in Nikola Jokic.
This isn’t the only issue now. Now, the Oklahoma City Thunder get to be on the other side of the bracket from the Spurs and Nuggets. That means Oklahoma City will be well rested for the Conference Finals, waiting for the winner of the seven-game war between the other two.
That same scenario could have benefited San Antonio had it taken care of business against Denver’s bench. The Nuggets and Thunder would have battled in round two, leaving the Spurs as the fresher team heading into the conference finals.
The young San Antonio team has put themselves in a tough situation. Round one won’t be an issue, but every step after that just got a bit tougher after this loss.
Does Denver Have San Antonio’s Number?
The implications of the loss are not pretty. The loss itself was an ugly one. The Spurs are now 1-3 against Denver and have allowed 125+ points each time.
For a team that takes pride in its defense, that number is concerning. San Antonio allowed 111.3 points per game this regular season. Against the Nuggets, that number skyrocketed to 134.
The Spurs clearly have no answer for Denver. People can’t say that was because Wemby didn’t play much in the matchup. In the game he did play, Jokic had 40 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists.
In this final game, it was clear that San Antonio wanted to win. It started a lot of its main starters. De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Harrison Barnes all played. They still got walked down by the Nuggets’ second unit and were playing catch-up all game long.
There is no doubt that Denver would enter this matchup with a mental advantage if the teams were to meet. For the Spurs, their caution with Wemby is understandable, but I feel like a part of the coaching staff regrets sitting him in this game.
End Of San Antonio Spurs Path Rant
The Spurs are an elite team. They are second in the West and have won 62 games. They can certainly beat Denver in the second round.
For a young team that is experiencing the playoffs for the first time together, the path matters. Some breaks need to go your way. In game 82, San Antonio had that opportunity with a win over the Nuggets’ second and third units.
The young core had a chance to avoid a team that had had its number all year. Wemby and company could be enjoying the path that the Thunder have in front of them.
Instead, the path has become as hard as it could be. It may not be what Spurs fans want, but this turns out well for NBA fans in general. Nothing would be better than a seven-game series between the two goliaths of the NBA: Jokic vs Wemby.
