The San Antonio Spurs face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. The Spurs have reached this point despite some players struggling.
Champagnie’s Uneven Series
Julian Champagnie has shown signs of improvement recently, performing well in Game 5 and Game 6. However, he has struggled for the majority of the series. Champagnie is shooting just 26.6% from three over the first six games.
He is typically a streaky shooter, but his current 3-point percentage is almost 10% lower than his regular season average. This suggests his shooting may improve.
Despite his inconsistent 3-point shooting, Champagnie has found other ways to make an impact. He has become more aggressive when attacking the basket off the dribble.
This has helped to compensate for his poor 3-point shooting. He has also contributed on the boards and is holding his own defensively.
Champagnie’s Potential Impact
His main contribution is still his 3-point shooting. San Antonio has shot reasonably well against OKC, with Devin Vassell’s good shooting helping to cover for Champagnie.
If Champagnie can perform well in Game 7, he could shift the advantage to the Spurs.
Playoff road games often highlight star players, but Champagnie had a strong Game 5 in OKC and could repeat that in Game 7.
- A strong game from Champagnie
- Limiting turnovers
- Victor Wembanyama being more aggressive offensively
These factors will be crucial for San Antonio to defeat the Thunder.
If he starts the game strong, as he did in Game 5, it would indicate a potential offensive boost. If Champagnie scores around 15 points, combined with a strong game from Victor Wembanyama and a solid performance from two of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper, it could lead to a significant road win.
Game 5 provided a blueprint for the Spurs to defeat the Thunder in Game 7.
A strong game from Champagnie, limiting turnovers, and having Wembanyama be more aggressive offensively will be crucial to San Antonio toppling the Thunder.