NBA Finals Notes: Spurs remain confident, Brunson incident draws attention, rotations tighten

The Spurs may be down 1-0 in the NBA Finals, but don’t expect panic to set in.

San Antonio entered the series as the favorite before dropping Game 1 to the Knicks, yet several players made it clear afterward that confidence inside the locker room remains strong.

“We feel like we’re the better team,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said. “We didn’t play well and still had a chance to win.”

It’s a sentiment that has become familiar during San Antonio’s playoff run.

The Spurs lost Game 1 to Minnesota in the Western Conference semifinals and later faced deficits of 2-1 and 3-2 against Oklahoma City before rallying to advance to the Finals.

Victor Wembanyama echoed that confidence after Game 1, despite admitting he wasn’t at his best.

“I was bad tonight,” Wembanyama said after finishing with 26 points and 12 rebounds. “We’re going to be so much better. I’m going to be so much better.”

Wembanyama expected to respond

While Wembanyama’s stat line looked impressive, many observers felt the Spurs star never fully controlled the game.

The Athletic’s Jared Weiss noted that Jalen Brunson seized the moment late for New York, while Wembanyama appeared to be searching for answers as the Knicks mounted their comeback.

Still, nobody inside the Spurs organization seems concerned.

“I feel like that is kind of who he is,” teammate Dylan Harper said. “He never backs down from the moment.”

Given how quickly Wembanyama has adjusted throughout his first postseason run, San Antonio expects a much stronger performance in Game 2.

NBA reviewing fan incident involving Brunson

The league is reportedly looking into an incident involving Brunson near the conclusion of Game 1.

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Brunson took issue with a pair of courtside fans who were allegedly directing profane and derogatory comments toward him during the closing moments of the game.

Haynes reported that Brunson spoke with referee Scott Foster afterward regarding the situation.

It’s unclear whether any disciplinary action will follow.

Playoff rotations continue to shrink

As expected, both teams shortened their rotations as Game 1 progressed.

The Knicks effectively reduced their rotation from 10 players to nine during the second half, with veteran guard Jordan Clarkson seeing his role disappear.

The Spurs made a similar adjustment, trimming rookie forward Carter Bryant from the regular rotation after halftime.

Those decisions aren’t unusual this time of year. With every possession magnified in the NBA Finals, coaches often lean more heavily on trusted veterans and proven contributors.