Oklahoma City spent 82 games preparing for the uncomfortable and unexpected. Like the start of Game 3.<\/p>\n
Uncomfortable like a physical Spurs defense forcing stops and steals, which became transition opportunities the other way. Unexpected, like the best stretch of ball movement the Spurs have had in the series. Then there was the expected, like a hyped Victor Wembanyama putting on a show.<\/p>\n
In the blink of an eye, it was 15-0 San Antonio and the crowd was roaring.<\/p>\n
Oklahoma City had prepared to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, to not lose its poise in the face of the unexpected. But more than that, the Thunder had prepared to use and trust their depth.<\/p>\n
That preparation paid off, and on a Friday night in San Antonio showed the stark differences in the benches of these two teams \u2014 and why that depth has OKC up 2-1 in the Western Conference Finals.<\/p>\n
In the wake of the early Spurs onslaught, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault turned to a lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and four bench players \u2014 a pairing he rarely used during the season but one he trusted in a key moment in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re actually not a team that wants to find rotational stability in the regular season. We\u2019re trying to create variability, because that gives us some learnings and creates options for us,\u201d Daigneault said late in the regular season about his use of unconventional lineups. \u201cIt also puts guys in situations where they have to adapt to who they\u2019re on the floor with, which we think is good for their development as players and for the playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson doesn\u2019t have the luxury of that depth, which has become an increasing issue in this series \u2014 especially when he has to rest Wembanyama. <\/p>\n
Those two things came together on Friday night in San Antonio \u2014 Daigneault leaned into an unconventional lineups at the same time Wemby sat for his usual first rest of the game. The result was a 13-2 Thunder run, and it was suddenly the Spurs\u2019 fast lead and momentum had disappeared.<\/p>\n
Daigneault trusted mid-season acquisition \u2014 Philadelphia fans would say \u201cgift\u201d \u2014 Jared McCain in those moments, and he went off for 24 points.<\/p>\n