The San Antonio Spurs enter Game 2 of the NBA Finals facing an unfamiliar situation. After a 105-95 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 1, the Western Conference champions trail in a playoff series for the first time since the opening round against Portland.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, De’Aaron Fox stressed that the Spurs remain confident despite surrendering home-court advantage.
“I mean we know this is a long series,” Fox said. “Obviously you want to win every game that you have on your home court, but it’s not the way that it happens every time. So we try to go in and fix the things that we need to fix and obviously want a different outcome.”
San Antonio led by as many as 14 points in Game 1 before New York rallied behind Jalen Brunson, who scored 30 points and poured in 13 during the fourth quarter. The Knicks closed the game on an 11-0 run and extended their playoff winning streak to 12 games.
Fox pointed to execution rather than major schematic changes as the key to bouncing back.
“I got to make shots,” Fox said. “I think that’s the only thing that’s different at times.”
The veteran guard has embraced a different role since arriving in San Antonio, where the offense revolves around Victor Wembanyama and a deep supporting cast. Fox said that adjustment has required sacrifice.
“As a player, you sacrifice for the betterment of the team,” Fox said. “There are times where I need to take shots. There are times where I don’t take as many shots, but at the end of the day, you need to make the shots that you take.”
Fox finished Game 1 frustrated by missed opportunities but did not believe his overall approach needed significant changes.
“At the end of the day, got to put the ball in the basket,” he said. “No, I don’t think so,” Fox added when asked if he would change anything beyond making shots.
A major topic entering Game 2 is San Antonio’s offensive balance between Fox, rookie Dylan Harper and Wembanyama. Fox explained that the Spurs are at their best when the ball moves freely and the defense is forced to rotate.
“Paint touches are our key,” Fox said. “When we get the defense moving, Vic gets easy shots. He doesn’t have to go one-on-one or have to fight through physicality the whole time.”
Fox emphasized that San Antonio should not abandon the offensive process that helped build its Game 1 lead.
“The process was there from the start and that was the way that we got our lead,” Fox said. “We have to try to continue that process over and over. And if you’re not making shots, you’re not making shots. But that shouldn’t change the process.”
The Spurs also identified rebounding as a critical area after reviewing film. Fox highlighted a late possession when New York grabbed an offensive rebound before Brunson connected on a three-pointer that gave the Knicks the lead for good.
“Those are kind of the nuances of how we have to play if we want to try to win this series,” Fox said.
Defensively, Fox acknowledged Brunson’s ability to take over games while stressing the need to make life more difficult on the Knicks star.
“You want someone else trying to take a tough shot,” Fox said. “Just try to find ways to get the ball out of his hands without just giving somebody else a warm-up jump shot.”
