Melo Edges

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[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

Love seeing stuff like this!!

$20➡️$482 on a 7-legger built entirely from angles in the breakdown.

✅ Champagnie PR
✅ KAT AST
✅ Hart REB
✅ Fox AST
✅ Wemby REB
✅ Wemby 3PM
✅ Brunson PTS

This is exactly why I spend hours digging into matchups and trends before every game. Appreciate everyone who reads and supports the breakdowns ❤️

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

NYK @ SAS GAME 1 BREAKDOWN 🏀

What a battle from San Antonio to take down OKC in a Game 7 thriller and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals.

Now we get a rematch of the NBA Cup Final, where the Knicks came away with an 11-point win. The Spurs haven’t forgotten that one either. After Game 7, Dylan Harper was seen getting Wemby and Castle’s attention saying:

“Hey! Hey! We got some get back for the Cup!”

Safe to say this series has a little extra juice.

On one side, you have the Knicks riding an incredible 11-game playoff winning streak and making their first Finals appearance in 27 years. On the other, you have a young Spurs core led by Wemby looking to cap off one of the most impressive postseason runs we’ve seen from a rising superstar.

Both teams have matchup advantages, both teams have questions to answer, and adjustments will be everything.

Let’s dive into Game 1 and see where the edges might be ⬇️

Spurs Side

Victor Wembanyama

Wemby has been exceptional throughout his first postseason, posting a +18.3 on-court differential for San Antonio. Looking at the season series, New York primarily defended him with KAT and Mitchell Robinson, occasionally throwing OG at him.

That matchup makes his 3-point volume interesting. In the latest meeting, he only made 1 three but attempted 7. The Knicks' best chance at slowing him down is keeping size on him and forcing him to operate more on the perimeter rather than letting him dominate inside.

Defensively, Wemby spent a lot of time guarding Josh Hart, allowing him to roam and protect the paint. If New York continues to use Hart as the player Wemby can help off of, it should create plenty of rebounding opportunities. He's cleared 12.5 rebounds in 2/3 meetings against New York this season.

De'Aaron Fox

Fox finally looked healthier in Game 7 after battling through the ankle injury, finishing with 15 points in 36 minutes.

The extra rest before the Finals should help. He's cleared 21.5 PA in 2/3 meetings against New York, averaging 23.7 PA. The lone miss came in the latest matchup when OG Anunoby spent most of the game defending him, holding him to just 3/10 shooting.

If the scoring isn't there, the assist line still stands out. Fox has cleared 5.5 AST in all three meetings against the Knicks this season, averaging 7.3 APG.

Stephon Castle

Castle will likely draw Josh Hart for most of this series, which is one of the tougher perimeter matchups New York can offer.

Hart has the strength and lateral quickness to make life difficult, and Castle hasn't cleared 16.5 points against the Knicks this season, averaging only 11 PPG in three meetings.

That said, Castle has taken another step during this playoff run and has looked far more confident offensively than he did during the regular season.

Julian Champagnie

Could this be a Julian Champagnie series?

He enters the Finals coming off a huge Game 7, scoring 20 points while shooting 6-for-10 from deep. Against New York, he'll likely spend plenty of possessions being defended by Jalen Brunson, a matchup opposing teams have targeted throughout the playoffs.

We've seen role players like Kelly Oubre and Max Strus find success attacking Brunson, and Champagnie has shown he's capable of taking advantage when given opportunities.

In San Antonio's lone home game against New York this season, he posted 42 PR (36 points, 6 rebounds). I also like his rebounding upside, as he spent a lot of time guarding OG in that game, often putting him in ideal weak-side rebounding position.

I'm already on his O15.5 PR for Game 1.

Knicks Side

Jalen Brunson

Brunson has had plenty of success against San Antonio this season, clearing 6.5 AST in 3/3 H2H while going over 24.5 points in 2/3.

The Spurs will likely defend him similarly to how they approached SGA, using Wemby in drop coverage and relying on his length to contest without fully committing.

That should leave Brunson with opportunities in the mid-range and on pull-up jumpers. If San Antonio decides to send mutliple bodies at him, his assist upside only increases.

I think this could be a strong series for Brunson overall.

Karl-Anthony Towns

KAT's evolution as a playmaker has been one of the biggest reasons for New York's playoff success.

He's cleared 4.5 AST in 5/7 road playoff games while averaging 7.3 APG. His ability to facilitate takes pressure off Brunson and gives New York another creator when teams load up defensively.

In the last H2H, San Antonio used Castle and Vassell as primary defenders on KAT while allowing Wemby to roam as a helper. While that can limit some of KAT's perimeter opportunities, it also creates post-up mismatches and passing opportunities when help arrives.

His O4.5 AST stands out as one of the more intriguing props for Game 1.

Josh Hart

Josh Hart may end up being one of the biggest swing factors in this series.

In the latest matchup, Wemby defended Hart and consistently helped off him to protect the paint. Hart finished just 2/9 against Wemby, 4/14 from the floor, and San Antonio will likely live with those jumpers again until he proves he can make them consistently.

The good news for New York is that Hart contributes in so many other ways. His rebounding will be crucial against a Spurs team that crashes the glass aggressively.

He's cleared 7.5 REB in 2/2 games against SAS this season, averaging 9 RPG.

Knicks Bench

The Knicks' bench could become a major storyline if San Antonio continues helping aggressively off Hart.

Landry Shamet has quietly been one of New York's most reliable role players this postseason, providing both shooting and perimeter defense.

If Hart struggles offensively, Shamet could see a bump in minutes. His 5.5 PTS line is worth monitoring after clearing it in 5/L6 games while averaging 11 PPG during that stretch.

Mitchell Robinson

Robinson is currently listed as probable for Game 1 after suffering a right pinky injury away from basketball activities.

Reports suggest he's feeling good and expects to play, though he's still awaiting final medical clearance.

If active, I don't expect a significant reduction in minutes. His size, rim protection, and rebounding will be extremely important against Wemby.

He's cleared his 4.5 REB in both meetings against San Antonio this season, posting 15 and 5 rebounds on just 16.5 MPG.

The one concern is his free-throw shooting. He’s been struggling as of late and now with the injured hand, San Antonio could look to intentionally foul him and force him to earn points at the line.

Main takeaways for Game 1 ⬇️

• Julian Champagnie’s potential breakout series
• Wemby’s 3-point volume and rebounding upside
• Josh Hart’s ability to make San Antonio pay for helping off him
• KAT’s playmaking opportunities vs Spurs coverages
• Brunson’s all-around production

As always, keep unit sizes reasonable for Game 1. We have a good idea of the matchups, but Finals adjustments can change everything quickly.

If you made it this far, I appreciate y'all ❤️

Likes, reposts, and follows are always appreciated. Let's cash some tickets!💰

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

Mikal Bridges O19.5 PRA
(-120) | 0.5u

Bridges attempted 13 shots in Game 1 and should continue to see a healthy workload in this matchup. He’ll see plenty of De’Aaron Fox defensively, a matchup that should allow him to stay aggressive.

I like the rebound upside as well. Bridges has spent a lot of time matched up with Devin Vassell, which has led to favorable weak-side rebounding opportunities and gives him another avenue to clear this line.

He’s been one of NYs most reliable playoff contributors, and his involvement was strong in the last game, with a 14.4% usage rate. In playoff games where he’s posted a 14%+ usage rate, he’s gone 10/10 to the over, averaging 26.4 PRA.

With his minutes, shot volume, and all-around production, 19.5 PRA feels a bit short here.

#NBAFinals

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

Victor Wembanyama Over 29.5 PA
(-125) | 0.5u

Backing Wemby in a must-win Game 3 spot.

Despite the two losses, he attempted 20+ field goals in each of the first two games and remains the clear focal point of San Antonio’s offense. When attempting 17+ FGA, he’s cleared this line in 7/9 postseason games, averaging 32.6 PA. He’s also gone over in all of those 3 road playoff games, averaging 38 PA.

What stands out most is his mindset heading into this game. After falling behind 0-2, Wembanyama embraced the pressure rather than shying away from it:

“This is everything that I wished for… this is what I’m built for.”

He also isn’t concerned about the hostile NY environment:

“Isolating myself is something I’ve practiced over the years. I’m good at it. Not a problem.”

With his expected shot volume, and a team desperately needing a response, I like Wemby to bounce back and stuff the stat sheet tonight.

#NBAFinals

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

06/05 NBA Recap 🏀

3-1 | +0.69u

✅ Dylan Harper O17.5 PR
✅ Landry Shamet O6.5 Points
✅ 🪜 Shamet 10+ Points (+220)
🪝 Steph Castle O4.5 Rebounds

Tough way to miss the sweep. Castle looked to have it, but a late stat correction on his rebounds ended up costing us. That’s the game sometimes.

Still a profitable night thanks to that beautiful Shamet ladder cashing at +220. Loved the reads overall and we’ll gladly take a winning day.💰

On to Game 3!🫡

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

I’m shocked we lost the sweep like that man. At LEAST 2 rebounds got stat-corrected for Castle. Just brutal way to miss the sweep💔

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

Stephon Castle Over 4.5 Rebounds
(-125, Betway) | 0.5u

I don’t usually target rebounds for guards, but Castle is one of the few exceptions. He consistently crashes the glass and has shown the ability to rack up rebounds regardless of how his shot is falling.

He’s cleared this line in 11/15 playoff games and in 41/54 games (75.9%) when playing 30+ minutes this season.

Castle logged 34 minutes in Game 1, spending much of the night defending Brunson, and still finished with 8 rebounds on 11 Reb chances.

The rebound-chance data is what stands out most. When Castle records 10+ reb chances, he’s gone over this line in 42/48 games this season while averaging 6.8 RPG. He’s also cleared it in 9/11 playoff games with 10+ rebound chances and 31+ min.

With his role, minutes, and activity on the glass, I like the value on 5+ rebounds again tonight.

#NBAFinals

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

@DDOGGSTACKS Ballerr

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

DYLAN HARPER O17.5 PR ✅

What a cash from Harper tonight! Came through when it mattered most and got us over the number😮‍💨💰

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

Dylan Harper Over 17.5 PR
(-118, FD) | 0.5u

Harper was a bright spot for the Spurs in Game 1, finishing with 16 points and 8 rebounds in just 28 minutes. He also made an impact defensively, holding Brunson to 0/2 shooting with 1 turnover as the primary defender.

After the game, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson was asked about leaving Harper out of the closing lineup:

“There was definitely consideration. Dylan had a heck of a game and was playing very well… Dylan did not finish the game because of nothing he did or did not do. It was a decision I made.”

That quote stands out to me. Harper was one of San Antonio’s best players in Game 1, and with the Spurs searching for answers against Brunson, I expect his role to remain significant heading into Game 2.

With 26+ minutes this postseason, Harper has cleared this line in all 8 games, averaging 26 PR. He’s also gone over in 22 of 29 games this season with 26+ min.

Meanwhile, players like Barnes and Bryant combined for 16 minutes and provided very little impact. If the Spurs tighten the rotation, Harper is one of the most likely candidates to benefit.

His defense, size, rebounding, and ability to create offense make him a key piece for San Antonio heading into G2. Expecting another strong workload with a realistic path to 30+ min for the rook.

#NBAFinals

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

How many rebounds they took away from Castle?!

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

@8leks_ Fuck they did it AGAIN

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

LANDRYYYYY✅✅

✅ O6.5 PTS
✅🪜10+ PTS (+220)

Cashed the main play AND the ladder 💰

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

Late Add🚨

Landry Shamet O6.5 Points
(-120, 0.4u)

🪜 10+ Points (+220, 0.2u)

Going back to Shamet here after a massive Game 1 off the bench:

• 13 Points
• 33 Minutes

He actually logged more minutes than both Hart and Bridges, showing just how much trust Mike Brown has in him right now.

After the game, Brown specifically praised Shamet’s impact:

“Landry Shamet was huge off the bench with his 13 points. Not only that, defensively he was huge for us.”

Shamet has now cleared 6.5 points in 6 of his last 7 games with an increased role, averaging 11.3 PPG during that stretch. He’s also scored 10+ points in 5 of those 7 games.

For the season, when playing 20+ minutes, he’s gone over this line in 32 of 38 games (84.2%), averaging 11.4 PPG.

After seeing 33 minutes in Game 1 and earning praise from the coaching staff, I think he sees another solid workload tonight. If he gets 20+ minutes again, I like his chances of clearing this number.

#NBAFinals

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

Late Add🚨

Landry Shamet O6.5 Points
(-120, 0.4u)

🪜 10+ Points (+220, 0.2u)

Going back to Shamet here after a massive Game 1 off the bench:

• 13 Points
• 33 Minutes

He actually logged more minutes than both Hart and Bridges, showing just how much trust Mike Brown has in him right now.

After the game, Brown specifically praised Shamet’s impact:

“Landry Shamet was huge off the bench with his 13 points. Not only that, defensively he was huge for us.”

Shamet has now cleared 6.5 points in 6 of his last 7 games with an increased role, averaging 11.3 PPG during that stretch. He’s also scored 10+ points in 5 of those 7 games.

For the season, when playing 20+ minutes, he’s gone over this line in 32 of 38 games (84.2%), averaging 11.4 PPG.

After seeing 33 minutes in Game 1 and earning praise from the coaching staff, I think he sees another solid workload tonight. If he gets 20+ minutes again, I like his chances of clearing this number.

#NBAFinals

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

Slip #1🍀

Gotta be simple sometimes🫡

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

Stephon Castle Over 4.5 Rebounds
(-125, Betway) | 0.5u

I don’t usually target rebounds for guards, but Castle is one of the few exceptions. He consistently crashes the glass and has shown the ability to rack up rebounds regardless of how his shot is falling.

He’s cleared this line in 11/15 playoff games and in 41/54 games (75.9%) when playing 30+ minutes this season.

Castle logged 34 minutes in Game 1, spending much of the night defending Brunson, and still finished with 8 rebounds on 11 Reb chances.

The rebound-chance data is what stands out most. When Castle records 10+ reb chances, he’s gone over this line in 42/48 games this season while averaging 6.8 RPG. He’s also cleared it in 9/11 playoff games with 10+ rebound chances and 31+ min.

With his role, minutes, and activity on the glass, I like the value on 5+ rebounds again tonight.

#NBAFinals

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

NYK @ SAN GAME 2 BREAKDOWN 🏀

The Knicks shot just 41.9% from the field in Game 1 and still won by 10 on the road. With San Antonio looking for answers, Game 2 should bring some interesting adjustments.

1. Dylan Harper Minutes Increase?

Harper was one of San Antonio’s biggest bright spots in Game 1, finishing with 16 points and 8 rebounds in just 28 minutes. Defensively, he also held Brunson to 0/2 shooting with 1 turnover as the primary defender.

After the game, Mitch Johnson was asked about not closing with Harper:

“There was definitely consideration. Dylan had a heck of a game and was playing very well… Dylan did not finish the game because of nothing he did or did not do. It was a decision I made.”

That quote stood out to me.

Harper was one of the Spurs’ best players and with San Antonio searching for answers against Brunson, I’d expect his role to remain significant heading into Game 2.

Meanwhile, Barnes and Bryant combined for just 16 minutes and provided very little impact. If the Spurs tighten the rotation, Harper is one of the most likely candidates to benefit.

I’m already on Harper O17.5 PR.

⸻

2. Brunson’s 30 Points on 31 FGA

Brunson finished with 30 points, but it wasn’t an efficient night. Through the first three quarters, he was just 7/22 from the floor, missing several looks he’s more than capable of converting.

Mitch Johnson’s thoughts after the game:

“We just got to keep making him work… 30 points on 31 shots is something you probably want to keep making him work for.”

Stephon Castle echoed a similar sentiment:

“I thought we did well… A lot of his buckets were loud because they came back-to-back. We did a pretty good job on him.”

I don’t expect a major change in San Antonio’s defensive approach. They’ll continue forcing Brunson into difficult shot-making situations.

That said, Brunson is one of the league’s best isolation scorers. If he gets hot, things can snowball quickly.

His O25.5 PTS is interesting, but if he starts cooking early, I’d expect to see more help and bodies thrown his way.

⸻

3. KAT’s Playmaking Remains Appealing

Karl-Anthony Towns was arguably New York’s best player in Game 1:

18 Points
12 Rebounds
4 Assists
+14

Defensively, he did a fantastic job on Wemby, helping hold him to 2/11 shooting and forcing 5 turnovers.

The Spurs also experimented with smaller defenders on KAT, something Mike Brown specifically addressed postgame:

“They’re going to put a small guy on KAT quite a bit…”

Brown explained that when those matchups happen, they want KAT operating closer to the basket while Josh Hart spaces the floor.

If San Antonio ends up putting Wemby on Hart rather than KAT, it could leave Towns with smaller defenders.

That’s where his passing upside becomes interesting.

KAT O3.5 AST remains on my radar.

⸻

4. Josh Hart’s Impact Beyond Scoring

Hart finished Game 1 with:

3 Points
15 Rebounds
6 Assists

He also posted New York’s best plus/minus at +22 despite playing only 27 minutes.

Hart wasn’t looking to score. He was doing what Josh Hart does best: crashing the glass, making quick decisions and creating extra possessions.

Julian Champagnie summed it up well:

“He knows what he does and what he’s good at and he just does it really well.”

If San Antonio puts Wemby on Hart in Game 2, I’d expect Hart to see more open looks from three as Wemby should be sagging off him to help in the paint.

⸻

5. Landry Shamet’s Role

Landry Shamet was huge off the bench in Game 1:

13 Points
33 Minutes

He actually played more minutes than both Hart and Bridges.

Mike Brown specifically praised both his scoring and defense after the game.

Shamet has averaged 21.3 MPG over his last seven games and is averaging 8.6 points per 21 min.

If his role remains up, both:

• O7.5 Points
• O1.5 Threes

are interesting.

⸻

6. Wemby Bounce-Back Spot?

After Game 1, Gregg Popovich sent Wemby a message:

“I’ve been bad, and that I’m better than this.”

We know how much Pop’s voice matters in that organization.

Game 1 was filled with difficult isolations, contested jumpers and pull-up shots, exactly what New York wanted.

Despite shooting just 6/21 from the floor, Wemby still finished with 26 points.

Mitch Johnson emphasized getting him moving toward the rim more often:

“We need the pressure on the rim and the force in the paint.”

He also added:

“I would suspect he’ll learn a lot from tonight’s game and come out with a good approach in Game 2.”

That caught my attention.

This feels like a strong bounce-back spot for Wemby.

O27.5 PTS is definitely interesting.

⸻

7. Fox Needs To Be Better

De’Aaron Fox struggled again:

7 Points
5 Assists
4 Rebounds

3/13 Shooting

Fox spoke after the game about how his role has changed since arriving in San Antonio:

“I’m not shooting the ball as much. But coming here, I knew that was the way it was going to be.”

He’s mainly being guared by OG and Shamet, making his scoring difficult.

His U17.5 PR remains interesting after failing to clear it in 4 straight games.

That said, his playmaking continues to stand out.

He finished with 5 AST on 15 pAST in Game 1.

⸻

Final Thoughts

Stephon Castle said after the game:

“I don’t think we have anything to be too worried about… We feel like we’re the better team.”

Honestly, I understand where he’s coming from.

The Spurs shot just 11/43 from three (25.6%), yet still won the rebounding battle and got to the free throw line consistently.

New York simply made more shots.

With the pressure of heading to New York looming, San Antonio knows they need to take care of business at home.

I think we see a much better Spurs performance in Game 2.

Main Takeaways

• Dylan Harper sees a minutes increase
• Wemby bounce-back spot
• KAT’s playmaking remains attractive
• Shamet should continue seeing meaningful minutes
• Fox unders remain interesting, but assists should stay live

If you made it this far, I appreciate y’all ❤️

A like, repost and follow is always appreciated. Let's Eat!

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

Dylan Harper Over 17.5 PR
(-118, FD) | 0.5u

Harper was a bright spot for the Spurs in Game 1, finishing with 16 points and 8 rebounds in just 28 minutes. He also made an impact defensively, holding Brunson to 0/2 shooting with 1 turnover as the primary defender.

After the game, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson was asked about leaving Harper out of the closing lineup:

“There was definitely consideration. Dylan had a heck of a game and was playing very well… Dylan did not finish the game because of nothing he did or did not do. It was a decision I made.”

That quote stands out to me. Harper was one of San Antonio’s best players in Game 1, and with the Spurs searching for answers against Brunson, I expect his role to remain significant heading into Game 2.

With 26+ minutes this postseason, Harper has cleared this line in all 8 games, averaging 26 PR. He’s also gone over in 22 of 29 games this season with 26+ min.

Meanwhile, players like Barnes and Bryant combined for 16 minutes and provided very little impact. If the Spurs tighten the rotation, Harper is one of the most likely candidates to benefit.

His defense, size, rebounding, and ability to create offense make him a key piece for San Antonio heading into G2. Expecting another strong workload with a realistic path to 30+ min for the rook.

#NBAFinals

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

@PANPOTD Script looks hella good🫡🔥

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

@ChronicBets @FrannysPlays Love to see yall on that as well🫡🔥

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

@PropKitchen @PKChefs 😮‍💨

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

Stephon Castle Over 4.5 Rebounds
(-125, Betway) | 0.5u

I don’t usually target rebounds for guards, but Castle is one of the few exceptions. He consistently crashes the glass and has shown the ability to rack up rebounds regardless of how his shot is falling.

He’s cleared this line in 11/15 playoff games and in 41/54 games (75.9%) when playing 30+ minutes this season.

Castle logged 34 minutes in Game 1, spending much of the night defending Brunson, and still finished with 8 rebounds on 11 Reb chances.

The rebound-chance data is what stands out most. When Castle records 10+ reb chances, he’s gone over this line in 42/48 games this season while averaging 6.8 RPG. He’s also cleared it in 9/11 playoff games with 10+ rebound chances and 31+ min.

With his role, minutes, and activity on the glass, I like the value on 5+ rebounds again tonight.

#NBAFinals

[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

NYK @ SAN GAME 2 BREAKDOWN 🏀

The Knicks shot just 41.9% from the field in Game 1 and still won by 10 on the road. With San Antonio looking for answers, Game 2 should bring some interesting adjustments.

1. Dylan Harper Minutes Increase?

Harper was one of San Antonio’s biggest bright spots in Game 1, finishing with 16 points and 8 rebounds in just 28 minutes. Defensively, he also held Brunson to 0/2 shooting with 1 turnover as the primary defender.

After the game, Mitch Johnson was asked about not closing with Harper:

“There was definitely consideration. Dylan had a heck of a game and was playing very well… Dylan did not finish the game because of nothing he did or did not do. It was a decision I made.”

That quote stood out to me.

Harper was one of the Spurs’ best players and with San Antonio searching for answers against Brunson, I’d expect his role to remain significant heading into Game 2.

Meanwhile, Barnes and Bryant combined for just 16 minutes and provided very little impact. If the Spurs tighten the rotation, Harper is one of the most likely candidates to benefit.

I’m already on Harper O17.5 PR.

⸻

2. Brunson’s 30 Points on 31 FGA

Brunson finished with 30 points, but it wasn’t an efficient night. Through the first three quarters, he was just 7/22 from the floor, missing several looks he’s more than capable of converting.

Mitch Johnson’s thoughts after the game:

“We just got to keep making him work… 30 points on 31 shots is something you probably want to keep making him work for.”

Stephon Castle echoed a similar sentiment:

“I thought we did well… A lot of his buckets were loud because they came back-to-back. We did a pretty good job on him.”

I don’t expect a major change in San Antonio’s defensive approach. They’ll continue forcing Brunson into difficult shot-making situations.

That said, Brunson is one of the league’s best isolation scorers. If he gets hot, things can snowball quickly.

His O25.5 PTS is interesting, but if he starts cooking early, I’d expect to see more help and bodies thrown his way.

⸻

3. KAT’s Playmaking Remains Appealing

Karl-Anthony Towns was arguably New York’s best player in Game 1:

18 Points
12 Rebounds
4 Assists
+14

Defensively, he did a fantastic job on Wemby, helping hold him to 2/11 shooting and forcing 5 turnovers.

The Spurs also experimented with smaller defenders on KAT, something Mike Brown specifically addressed postgame:

“They’re going to put a small guy on KAT quite a bit…”

Brown explained that when those matchups happen, they want KAT operating closer to the basket while Josh Hart spaces the floor.

If San Antonio ends up putting Wemby on Hart rather than KAT, it could leave Towns with smaller defenders.

That’s where his passing upside becomes interesting.

KAT O3.5 AST remains on my radar.

⸻

4. Josh Hart’s Impact Beyond Scoring

Hart finished Game 1 with:

3 Points
15 Rebounds
6 Assists

He also posted New York’s best plus/minus at +22 despite playing only 27 minutes.

Hart wasn’t looking to score. He was doing what Josh Hart does best: crashing the glass, making quick decisions and creating extra possessions.

Julian Champagnie summed it up well:

“He knows what he does and what he’s good at and he just does it really well.”

If San Antonio puts Wemby on Hart in Game 2, I’d expect Hart to see more open looks from three as Wemby should be sagging off him to help in the paint.

⸻

5. Landry Shamet’s Role

Landry Shamet was huge off the bench in Game 1:

13 Points
33 Minutes

He actually played more minutes than both Hart and Bridges.

Mike Brown specifically praised both his scoring and defense after the game.

Shamet has averaged 21.3 MPG over his last seven games and is averaging 8.6 points per 21 min.

If his role remains up, both:

• O7.5 Points
• O1.5 Threes

are interesting.

⸻

6. Wemby Bounce-Back Spot?

After Game 1, Gregg Popovich sent Wemby a message:

“I’ve been bad, and that I’m better than this.”

We know how much Pop’s voice matters in that organization.

Game 1 was filled with difficult isolations, contested jumpers and pull-up shots, exactly what New York wanted.

Despite shooting just 6/21 from the floor, Wemby still finished with 26 points.

Mitch Johnson emphasized getting him moving toward the rim more often:

“We need the pressure on the rim and the force in the paint.”

He also added:

“I would suspect he’ll learn a lot from tonight’s game and come out with a good approach in Game 2.”

That caught my attention.

This feels like a strong bounce-back spot for Wemby.

O27.5 PTS is definitely interesting.

⸻

7. Fox Needs To Be Better

De’Aaron Fox struggled again:

7 Points
5 Assists
4 Rebounds

3/13 Shooting

Fox spoke after the game about how his role has changed since arriving in San Antonio:

“I’m not shooting the ball as much. But coming here, I knew that was the way it was going to be.”

He’s mainly being guared by OG and Shamet, making his scoring difficult.

His U17.5 PR remains interesting after failing to clear it in 4 straight games.

That said, his playmaking continues to stand out.

He finished with 5 AST on 15 pAST in Game 1.

⸻

Final Thoughts

Stephon Castle said after the game:

“I don’t think we have anything to be too worried about… We feel like we’re the better team.”

Honestly, I understand where he’s coming from.

The Spurs shot just 11/43 from three (25.6%), yet still won the rebounding battle and got to the free throw line consistently.

New York simply made more shots.

With the pressure of heading to New York looming, San Antonio knows they need to take care of business at home.

I think we see a much better Spurs performance in Game 2.

Main Takeaways

• Dylan Harper sees a minutes increase
• Wemby bounce-back spot
• KAT’s playmaking remains attractive
• Shamet should continue seeing meaningful minutes
• Fox unders remain interesting, but assists should stay live

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[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

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[Melo Edges @LocksMelo]

Dylan Harper Over 17.5 PR
(-118, FD) | 0.5u

Harper was a bright spot for the Spurs in Game 1, finishing with 16 points and 8 rebounds in just 28 minutes. He also made an impact defensively, holding Brunson to 0/2 shooting with 1 turnover as the primary defender.

After the game, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson was asked about leaving Harper out of the closing lineup:

“There was definitely consideration. Dylan had a heck of a game and was playing very well… Dylan did not finish the game because of nothing he did or did not do. It was a decision I made.”

That quote stands out to me. Harper was one of San Antonio’s best players in Game 1, and with the Spurs searching for answers against Brunson, I expect his role to remain significant heading into Game 2.

With 26+ minutes this postseason, Harper has cleared this line in all 8 games, averaging 26 PR. He’s also gone over in 22 of 29 games this season with 26+ min.

Meanwhile, players like Barnes and Bryant combined for 16 minutes and provided very little impact. If the Spurs tighten the rotation, Harper is one of the most likely candidates to benefit.

His defense, size, rebounding, and ability to create offense make him a key piece for San Antonio heading into G2. Expecting another strong workload with a realistic path to 30+ min for the rook.

#NBAFinals