After a putrid performance from De'Aaron Fox in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs didn't offer to take the blame, instead putting it on the veteran.
After blowing a 27-point halftime lead to the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs are down 3-1, on the ropes as the series heads back to Texas.
During their historical loss, the Spurs were led in the first half by red-hot play from Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, and Devin Vassell. In the second half, everyone on the roster got cold, but it wasn't their inability to make shots that sunk their ship.
Instead, it was poor shot selection and untimely turnovers. Most of the criticism has fallen on De'Aaron Fox, who finished the second half with five inefficient points and four foolish turnovers.
The former Clutch Player of the Year failed to play with urgency and poise, even as the Knicks rallied, and after the game, his teammates and coaches threw some shade.
Spurs Call Out De'Aaron Fox
Fox, like his young teammates, is one of the best downhill players in the NBA. He's fast and shifty, able to get past almost any defender.
Instead, he stayed on the perimeter, taking four second-half 3-pointers. He only made one of them.
"I think it's just execution, greediness of some sort," said Wembanyama after the game. "We clearly weren't the most hungry in the second half."
Maybe had Fox actually attacked the basket, the "most hungry" comment would have been unnecessary, but instead the Spurs--led by Fox--turned their back on what worked in the first half.
"We got away from what got us the 76 points in the first half just in terms of putting pressure on the rim, rolling after screens, running, continuing to find the paint, whether it's for ourselves or for our teammates," said Mitch Johnson. "We got on our heels and missed some shots. And then you don't get as many free throws and high percentage looks when you play on your heels like that."
Instead of getting downhill and either drawing fouls or kicking it out to an open man, Fox played hero ball late into the game.
"We need to continue to put pressure on the rim and touch the paint and crash because you don't always make even the best 3-point looks," Johnson added.
While Fox failed to pick anything up in the second half, Dylan Harper also went cold, although fans would have preferred the Spurs to keep him on the court over the veteran.
"We went away from everything we were doing," Harper explained. "I think in the first half, a lot of shots went in, and a lot of tough shots went in. But, really, that was because I was playing the right way, and I think we got away from that in the second half because of the lead. But we just can't take our foot off the gas. I mean, it's one thing for me to sit up here and say it, but it's another thing for us to go out there and do it."
With no room for error, the Spurs are hoping to become the second team to ever come back from a 3-1 Finals deficit, although after the mental defeat on Wednesday, that seems like wishful thinking.
