The San Antonio Spurs cruised past the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, and they will have to change things up if they want to find the same success against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The San Antonio Spurs were one of the first teams in the NBA to punch their ticket to the second round of the playoffs, beating the Portland Trail Blazers in five games.
Portland was one of the league's most physical teams this season, and its playstyle did wear on San Antonio, both physically and mentally. However, the Silver and Black were simply the better team, did a good job of shutting down the Blazers' stars, and advanced without too much stress.
In the second round, the Spurs will face off against an equally physical Minnesota Timberwolves team, although the Wolves are much more experienced than the Blazers. Even with Anthony Edwards listed on the injury report, the Spurs will have their hands full.
They already know that they will have to make one major adjustment.
Stephon Castle Previews Matchup vs. Wolves
Between Dylan Harper, De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and even Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs love to push the pace. This season, they were 13th in tempo, although once they get downhill, no one in the league can keep up with them.
Against the Wolves, especially Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels, Castle knows that those opportunities will be few and far between, and the Spurs will have to rely on taking the smart shot, not the first shot.
"Portland did a good job of trying to force us into those early shots, and then they get rebounded and try to play with pace," Castle explained. "So, I mean, yeah, just going back and watching it and just realizing how much better we are when we play with discipline and try and find better looks."
With Gobert being one of the best defenders in NBA history and Edwards, McDaniels, and Julius Randle all capable of playing at an All-Defensive level, the Spurs will have to swing the ball around the perimeter instead of attacking in isolation, which means corner 3s will be at a premium.
"With the way that they guard, most of the time they either put McDaniels on Fox, or if they do it like that, then they'll probably put him on Vic, then I don't know who they'll put on Fox," Castle added. "But I mean, either way, we've seen it throughout the season, so I mean it won't be any surprise either way."
The Spurs bring more offensive versatility than nearly any team in the league, but the Wolves have a counter for almost anything. The Spurs are 13.5-point favorites in Game 1, but the players involved know it will be a hard-fought battle.