The San Antonio Spurs are looking to bounce back against the New York Knicks in Game 2 of the National Basketball Association Finals after a tough opening loss.
Wembanyama Calls for Team to Return to Basics
Victor Wembanyama is rallying the San Antonio Spurs to rediscover their identity following the series opener loss against the New York Knicks. The Spurs are locking in for payback time in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, today (Saturday, June 6, PH time).
The Spurs dropped Game 1 on their home floor, 95-105, and now face must-win mode to prevent a 0-2 hole heading back to Madison Square Garden in New York.
The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama emphasized that for them to win, they need to get back to the team's basic plays, which proved effective all season long. "Really, I think the reason we lost that game isn't even technical. It's not even technical, tactical," Wembanyama said in an article posted at Spurs.com. "We need to approach the game with a better mental state. We just need to play our game. We just need to be normal."
Wembanyama stressed that by "normal" he means trusting each other, trusting the basketball gods, trusting the game plan, executing, and not relying solely on talent to make shots or save the day.
Knicks Prepare for Desperate Spurs
The Knicks are well aware that the Spurs will come out with a desperate mindset in Game 2. "A desperate team," Mitchell Robinson said in a press conference posted by the NBA on social media when asked what the Knicks are preparing for.
OG Anunoby, who was instrumental in Game 1 for the Knicks, expects a tightened defense from his team. "I think we just tried to be physical and be aggressive defensively," Anunoby said. "We try to make anyone we're playing uncomfortable. We don't want people to be comfortable. Taking up space when you can, always make sure to get a contest, and just fly around -- communicate on defense."
The Knicks are aiming for their first championship since 1973, while the Spurs want to win the championship again after 2014.
