Tonight was the Spurs’ opportunity to prove they belonged, and boy, did they ever. Area 512 is the story of the game for me. The 21 and 1/2 year3 old duo of Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle combined for 55 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals, 4 blocks, and just 3 TOs between them. They were also 13 of 15 from the FT line and 4 of 9 from beyond the arc.

Alright, I hope you had a good night’s sleep, have your favorite caffeinated beverage4, and are sitting down to a nice, quiet lunch break. Let’s listen to our favorite hoopers talk about last night’s win.

Victor Wembanyama: 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks

Stephon Castle: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

De’Aaron Fox: 12 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. (including a very clutch block against KAT late in the game)

Mitch Johnson: Once again the rookie coach coached his ASS butt off.

The Spurs bought themselves some room to maneuver and put the pressure on the Knicks to win Game 4. They’ve done their job, but there’s still plenty more work to do.

3 more wins. GO SPURS GO.

Thank you for reading this edition of the Corporate Knowledge, if you’d like to read/watch/listen to more of my work, you can check Matt and I out on the Locked On Spurs Podcast this afternoon live on YouTube. I’m also on Instagram and right here on Substack at The Video Man .

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Matt and I were live on Locked On Spurs earlier today, talking about how the Spurs can execute offensively, and win this game. It is also available as audio wherever you get your podcasts.

Tomorrow, we’ll be live on YouTube, again, to talk about everything we saw in tonight’s game. We’re usually live in the early afternoon, around 2-3 p.m. C.S.T.1

I’ll see you guys in the game chat. Go Spurs Go.

Thank you for reading this edition of the Corporate Knowledge Post-Game Roundup, if you’d like to read/watch/listen to more of my work, you can check Matt and I out on the Locked On Spurs Podcast every Monday through Friday live on YouTube. I’m also on Instagram and right here on Substack at The Video Man .

Below, I’ve collected the Spurs media availabilities from yesterday, in case you haven’t watched them already. Tonight’s game will come down to execution, particularly down the stretch. I know the Spurs have been poring over game film and obsessing about what could have gone better Friday night. Let’s see if they can apply what they learned in Game 3.

First up, Coach Mitch Johnson.

Victor Wembanyama

De’Aaron Fox

Devin Vassell

Stephon Castle

Dylan Harper

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Thank you for reading this edition of the Corporate Knowledge, if you’d like to read/watch/listen to more of my work, you can check Matt and I out on the Locked On Spurs Podcast this afternoon live on YouTube. I’m also on Instagram and right here on Substack at The Video Man .

I didn’t stay up and watch the press conferences last night, instead I went to bed1. I wanted some time to process my thoughts about last night’s game. Instead of coffee and breakfast, today’s post game roundup comes to you at brunch. Hopefully, you’re not nursing a hangover2.

I apologize in advance for this next part.

Sometimes, it feels like games come down to one decision. We all know better. Just like life never really comes down to just one decision, there are a ton of decisions last night that led to the Spurs losing the game. This one just sealed the deal.3

The Spurs — and more specifically Victor Wembanyama — have let 2 games in the NBA Finals get away from them at home. They have to win 4 of the next 5 to come home with the Larry O’Brien, and they have firmly ceded home court advantage.

Matthew and I talked about this on Locked On Spurs, both Thursday and Friday. The Spurs need to execute on the little things, especially down the stretch, if they want to win against the Knicks. So far, they’ve failed spectacularly in that regard.

Here’s what the Spurs themselves had to say after last night’s loss.

We’ll start with the Frenchman who finally found his offense, better late than never, I suppose. After scoring just 7 points in the first half, he found 22 more in the second. If he can play aggressively in NYC like he did in the second half of Game 2, he will make everything easier on his teammates in Game 3.

Wemby put up 29 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks. True shooting (TS%) was only 59% last night, he shot 63%4 from the free throw line.

Next up, over-hated All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox. Swipa contributed 20 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and a steal. TS% was 78% last night, he made both of his three pointers, and his free throws.

Last but not least, Coach Mitch Johnson. Coach has a tall task this weekend, we’ll see how him and his staff are able to prepare these guys for Game 3 in Madison Square Garden.

Shoutout to Devin Vassell, who wasn’t interviewed in last night’s post game, but who contributed 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists on 68% TS.

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There’s no sugarcoating it. The Spurs are in trouble, and they NEED a win on Monday night. Game 3 will be the most difficult game of most of these young players’ lives, in one of the hardest arenas to win in. A loss will mean a very real possibility of being swept outright.

The Spurs haven’t lost 3 in a row, yet, in the 100+ games they’ve played this season. They’re going to have to keep that streak alive if they want their season to extend beyond Wednesday5.

It would be easy for us as fans to give up and say “they’ll get them next time.” It would be easy for this team, for these players, to let themselves off the hook with a pat on the back for a job well done6. The NBA Finals, what an achievement.

But I don’t think these guys are thinking like that. I think this team, these players, this superstar, have what it takes to win this series even though the odds may look insurmountable. And I think, like so many times this season, we’re going to see something we haven’t seen before, Monday night in New York City.

Maybe I’m a delusional homer7, but I’m not giving up yet.

Go Spurs Go.

Thank you for reading this edition of the Corporate Knowledge Post-Game Roundup, if you’d like to read/watch/listen to more of my work, you can check Matt and I out on the Locked On Spurs Podcast every Monday through Friday live on YouTube. I’m also on Instagram and right here on Substack at The Video Man .

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Good Morning, Spurs Fans,

I hope you were able to get some sleep, and forget how the San Antonio Spurs played possibly their worst — and most disappointing — game of the season. On the bright side, they were terrible and somehow still managed to not get blown out.

In a 105-95 loss, where they had multiple chances down the stretch to get a win, they repeatedly fell short. Turnovers as a team were overall not bad1 — but, Victor Wembanyama had 6 on his own, and in general played out of control on the offensive end.

I think the real story of the game though is this stat: 16 assists. Instead of moving the ball, making quick decisions, and finding the best available shot, the Spurs played a lot of iso ball. That style of basketball resulted in the team shooting a pathetic 36% from the field and just 26% from the behind the arc.

It wasn’t all bad, Dylan Harper had a hell of a game.2 Julian Champagnie came out hot3, and they shot 80% from the free throw line.4

Okay, it’s over now. Grab your caffeinated beverage of choice, settle in, and watch your favorite hoopers talk about how they pretty much sucked last night.

Victor Wembanyama — 26 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal. 6/21 from the field, 12/13 from the free throw line.

Coach Mitch Johnson.

Dylan Harper: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 steal. 6/10 from the field, 3/3 from the free throw line.

If the Spurs want to win a title this year, that effort isn’t gonna do it. Let’s see how they respond on Friday.

Go Spurs go.

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Thank you for reading this edition of the Corporate Knowledge Post-Game Roundup, if you’d like to read/watch/listen to more of my work, you can check Matt and I out on the Locked On Spurs Podcast this afternoon live on YouTube. I’m also on Instagram and right here on Substack at The Video Man .

Below, I have the press conferences from last night’s Western Conference Finals Game 7. San Antonio punched their ticket to an NBA finals matchup with the New York Knicks, Wednesday at 7:30 CST, on ABC, at home.1

Real quick: I’m really excited to be writing an article for this publication. Like, very excited. I subscribed to C.K. a few years ago, back before Victor Wembanyama changed all of our basketball pasts, presents, and futures. Fellow Spurs fans are hard to find on the east coast, and it’s been great watching the games with all of you. Crashing out when they suck, celebrating when they’re great, and watching this young team turn into a championship caliber contender before our eyes has been a lot more fun with this great group of Spurs fans from across the world.2 I hope you continue to hang out with us as we cover the NBA Finals.

Okay, I hope you’ve made your coffee, have nothing to do, and nowhere to be. Sit back and listen to your favorite hoopers talk about last night’s win. Let’s start with the WCF MVP, Victor Wembanyama.

The Alien put up a pedestrian (for him) 22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and just 1 block. He brought the energy and set the tone from the tip, forcing the Thunder to focus all their attention on him on both sides of the floor.

Up next, a guy who has been a bit of scapegoat (Dinkleberg for my generation,3) all season: De’Aaron Fox put up 15 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals in an efficient night, shooting 50% from the field and a shade under 43% from 3. His steady hand helped seal this game.4

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10-year vet in a 20-year old’s body Dylan Harper added 12 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 62.5% from the field and hit 2 of 3 from deep. HE’S A ROOKIE!5

Fun Fact you probably already know: Julian Champagnie was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023 so that Mac Mclung could compete in the dunk contest with a Sixers jersey on. The Spurs claimed him of waivers and the rest is history. He just helped his team win their first Western Conference Finals in nearly a decade6. Champ put up 20 points, going 6 of 10 from deep.7

Mitch Johnson coached his ass8 off tonight. All season, it has been clear to me that Mitch has the locker room’s respect. And yes, that all starts with the mindset and example set by Victor Wembanyama. But it also stems from a culture grounded in teamwork, and overcoming adversity. Both the star player and the head coach (and from what I can tell, just about everybody else in the organization,) work to instill confidence in their teammates, and build them up to meet their potential.

This season, Mitch Johnson has shown all of us why he was chosen to be Pop’s successor. And just like his players, at every stage of this season, he’s made the right adjustments, learned from his mistakes and guided this team to the NBA Finals.9

The Spurs are back to their winning ways. Four more wins in the Race to Seis.

Go Spurs go.

Thank you for reading this edition of the Corporate Knowledge Post-Game Roundup, if you’d like to read/watch/listen to more of my work, you can check Matt and I out on the Locked On Spurs Podcast this afternoon live on YouTube. I’m also on Instagram and right here on Substack at .

3

SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama has officially been placed in concussion protocol after he landed on the side of his face and jaw during a scary fall in the second quarter of the Spurs’ 106-103 loss to the Trail Blazers Tuesday night.

Following the game, Mitch Johnson said San Antonio’s 22-year-old superstar wasn’t being evaluated for anything further than a concussion at that juncture, and a team spokesman added Wembanyama went home early to get some rest.

The NBA’s guidelines state a player cannot return to full participation for at least 48 hours from the day he enters concussion protocol, and must pass a series of physical tests while remaining symptom-free before he is cleared by a team physician in consultation with the director of the NBA concussion program.

It was an ugly collision with the court. Wembanyama had crossed between his legs going right against Jrue Holiday before spinning back to his left, where Holiday ‘pulled the chair’ and caused Victor and all his momentum to tangle and careen to the floor, where his jaw appeared to bounce off the hardwood.

Wembanyama laid flat on his stomach with his head resting on his arms for a few seconds before moving to a seated position while holding his head in his hands. Moments later. he jumped to his feet and ran down the tunnel to the locker room.

With the series now tied 1-1, the injury puts the Spurs in a difficult situation as they head to Portland for Game 3, potentially without their superstar. San Antonio went 2-1 versus the Blazers during the regular season, and coincidentally, Wembanyama did not play in a single one of those matchups.

So there is still light at the end of the tunnel for the Spurs, especially if additional testing on Wednesday reveals no further injury to Wembanyama. But San Antonio’s guards are in for a difficult test against a big, physical Portland backcourt that will dare them to win one-on-one battles all night.

We will have more updates here at Corporate Knowledge as they become available. Also, be sure and subscribe to the ‘Locked On Spurs’ podcast wherever you get your podcasts for daily shows Monday-Friday. We will obviously be talking about this.

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