NBA Finals: LeBron and Nash’s advice – “Harper is the key”

Down 2-1 in the series and with the New York Knicks still holding home-court momentum, the San Antonio Spurs find themselves facing the most critical moment of their season. There is no room for error in Game 4.

On the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast, LeBron James and Steve Nash broke down the Finals and suggested the bold adjustments coach Mitch Johnson needs to make to crack New York’s defense, starting with a difficult decision at point guard.

The biggest question mark for the Spurs remains the health of De’Aaron Fox. The former Kings star, limited by injury, has been wildly inconsistent throughout the series. After a rough Game 1 performance (7 points on 3-for-13 shooting) and a strong bounce-back in Game 2 (20 points), he once again struggled in Game 3, finishing with 12 points on a disappointing 4-for-14 from the field.

According to Steve Nash, it’s time to give rookie Dylan Harper a larger role:

Fox’s situation is crucial: how healthy is he really? He’s an All-Star, and we know what he brings in terms of poise and leadership, but he has to perform at his level. On the other hand, Dylan Harper was outstanding in Game 1. He changed the game in isolation situations, defended hard, and looked like nobody on the Knicks could stay in front of him. He deserves more minutes

Steve Nash

LeBron James doubled down, explaining that the NBA Finals are not the time for sentimentality or locker-room diplomacy. If Fox cannot be relied upon, the Spurs must ride the energy of their younger players.

This isn’t the time to think, ‘If I don’t play this guy, I’ll lose him for the rest of the season.’ Guys, the season is right now. It ends here. We all know Fox is a major piece and that’s why they brought him in. Two years ago he was the Clutch Player of the Year. We know about his elite speed in the open floor and his ability to break down defenses when he’s healthy. But his role should depend entirely on how the game unfolds

LeBron James

The other major concern for San Antonio is the efficiency of Victor Wembanyama, who has been heavily challenged by the physical play of Karl-Anthony Towns. After shooting just 28.6% from the field in Game 1, Wembanyama responded in dominant fashion in Game 3 with 32 points, 8 rebounds, and an outstanding 61.1% shooting performance. For the four-time NBA champion, however, the Spurs need to make life easier for their franchise star offensively:

They need to put him back in the corners, use back screens to get him catching the ball on the move, and free him from defenders. KAT is using a lot of physicality and body contact against him, which is completely normal in the Finals. The Spurs have to get Wemby moving, use his athleticism to create catch-and-shoot opportunities, or let him attack off the dribble while the defense is still rotating

LeBron James

The progress San Antonio showed in its Game 3 victory at Madison Square Garden offers hope, but if the Spurs want to win three more games and keep the series from slipping away, they must be willing to make significant adjustments. Game 4 on Wednesday night will reveal whether San Antonio has learned the lesson – or whether the Knicks will find the definitive answer, move ahead 3-1, and put one hand firmly on the NBA championship.