Missing Spark That Defines OKC, Spurs Sent Packing in Search of Energy Boost

OKLAHOMA CITY — The last words said to Russell Westbrook before he took the court Thursday and ended what not long ago was accurately being called the greatest San Antonio Spurs season ever:

“Let’s go, fool.”

Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Anthony Morrow spoke them, practically singing the words as a tune.

It was the antithesis of what any of the button-down, veteran Spurs would ever say to each other, especially in a pressure-packed playoff moment.

As such, the words serve as an apt stamp to put on a Spurs’ season that came to a close after a 113-99 Game 6 loss to the Thunder.

The Spurs are not chill and reckless and eager to dance.

They are not fools.

And seriousness speaks to something they lacked in this six-game Western Conference semifinal blitz by a team that finished 12 games behind them in the standings.

It wasn’t simply athleticism, though that was part of it.

It was vitality.

“Relentless” is how Spurs coach Gregg Popovich described Oklahoma City’s will in pursuit of rebounds—especially Steven Adams, who was three years old when Tim Duncan was drafted.

Popovich’s long-held belief that he wants players who have “gotten over themselves” undeniably helps build a team.

“The more character you bring in—or people who have gotten over themselves or are already competitive and don’t need to be motivated—the job’s a whole lot easier,” he said earlier this season. “You can concentrate on other things. So that’s part of the formula.”

But as Popovich himself said, that’s not all that is needed.

If some “gotten over themselves” guys are going to be so vanilla, other ingredients must promote, rather than stifle, creativity.

And without enough flavor in the mix and explosion in the chemistry, the Spurs were exposed by the onrushing Thunder to be so much less than they purported to be.

They were charlatans, really. Via black smoke and silver mirrors, the Spurs made unfocused opponents look stupid in the regular season en route to a club-record 67 regular-season victories.

Yet when it came down to it, the Spurs had no next gear and no unstoppable individual stars. The long, nimble Thunder defense hunkered down instead of falling for all that deception. Kevin Durant had it figured out by late Thursday night, explaining how the quick-passing Spurs offense just tries to “make you move around a lot.” OKC just didn’t move.

For some observers it was a stunningly premature end to San Antonio’s season, but it was telling how well the Spurs accepted defeat.

They knew their bench was heavy with experience but offered no infusions of energy when on the court.

They knew they got tired late in games and thus failed to execute.

And they got really tired late in the series, trailing by 28 points in the final game.

Bear in mind how the Spurs fell off late in their playoff series last year, too, losing Games 6 and 7 to the Los Angeles Clippers to exit in the first round.

This year, Oklahoma City grew wise to the Spurs’ tricks while not letting go of its own irrational exuberance. Only one side had healthy spice on it.   

That’s what San Antonio must seek in the offseason—especially something dynamic and imaginative on the perimeter that Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili gave as 2014 champions but can no longer.

The Spurs will also ask for even more from Kawhi Leonard, perhaps more than he can give.

 

Leonard likes red Gatorade.

After the Spurs’ big home victory over the Golden State Warriors in March, he did his usual brief media session in the locker room—hoodie over his head as is so often the case—and then doubled back to get a drink from the fridge.

He paused for several seconds, considering the options.

Still chose red.

When a season ends with a loss instead of a victory, we nitpick even when you’ve done as amazingly well as Leonard, the runner-up to Stephen Curry for NBA MVP.

Part of Leonard’s greatness stems from the fact that he doesn’t freelance the way Curry does. The guy is so solid. But in a playoff series where the opponent learns so well to take away set plays, favorite actions and even simple tendencies, …

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