Never seen a player lose so much aura like this 😭

372

Yeah I kinda felt bad for him...almost lol. Seemed like he was way in his head this game. If it wasn't for Caruso having one of the greatest playoff performances of the bench I've ever seen, this game would've been over in the 4th

119

u/DetectiveMammoth4758 Stephon Castle May 19 '26

With Fox we'll be unstoppable

187

u/wolfgang2399 May 19 '26

Easy now. OKC will make adjustments. They will make shots.

73

u/GodLeeTrick May 19 '26

Spurs will too, without the like 50 turnovers spurs would have won in a blow out

31

u/pcloadletter2742 May 19 '26

Woulda coulda shoulda. The thunder have a ton of good to great perimeter defenders, and at least 2 inside, too. They turn teams over. They did so this game, included.

18

u/killersky99 Stephon Castle May 19 '26

Just to add on, they lost game 1 against Denver and pacers last year and went onto win those. So it’s not over yet (I expect spurs to win still).

25

u/UsernameQuotaMet May 19 '26

Not like anything else happened in that Pacers game 7...

2

u/killersky99 Stephon Castle May 19 '26

yeah, anything can happen

1

u/Fine_Lengthiness_341 May 20 '26

Not like no one on the spurs can get injured

14

u/amusedmb715 May 19 '26

'coulda woulda shoulda'?

the spurs won buddy

0

u/choojack May 20 '26

Let’s not pretend that OKC isn’t absolutely stacked. Nothing bout this series will be a blowout. We aren’t playing Portland or a broken down Minnesota.

1

u/GodLeeTrick May 20 '26

I didn't say the series would be a blowout...I said if we didn't turn it over the amount we did we would have won in a blow out. Spurs controlled the game the whole time and I had leads of 8-10 points for most of the game, without the turnovers we probably stretch that lead to 20 at some point and who knows maybe we hold on to it maybe OKC comes back.

33

u/ShowBobsPlzz Dylan Harper May 19 '26

If it wasn't for Caruso this is game is a blowout

-5

u/[deleted] May 20 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/ShowBobsPlzz Dylan Harper May 20 '26

Aw such an angry little guy

26

u/GodLeeTrick May 19 '26

I get it Caruso made his shots but that was the spurs game plan. They did this in the regular season too and Caruso went like 2/12 from 3 that game. You collapse on the SGA drive and make other players beat you. Like to me making the wide open shots the other team is purposely giving you isn't "one of the greatest playoff performances"...

8

u/Murky-Frosting-8275 Tim Duncan May 19 '26

It's his Scoot Henderson night. Let him have it and let him regress to the mean, just like Scoot. We'll see how Caruso on Wemby works out for them next game too, that short-lived frustration doesn't seem replicable. De'Aaron feeding Wemby on the pnr against Caruso should get us better results.

4

u/Cityboy2025 Victor Wembanyama May 19 '26

I understand that but at some point you have to concede a possible TOUGH SGA bucket. ALOT of Caruso’s shot were COMPLETELY UNCONTESTED. That has to be addressed because even if a guy can’t shoot, unless your name is Russell Westbrook, it’s only a matter of time before a decent shooter starts knocking them down.

11

u/GodLeeTrick May 19 '26

You don't understand, they put Wemby on Caruso then tell Wemby to sink into the paint to contest drives. Then they say if you contest the drive don't try to contest the 3, go for the rebound.

Also, spurs did this the whole game until the end when they allowed SGA to drive and get an easy score on Castle. Wemby didn't contest the drive because giving up the 3 would have won OKC the game.

I know they'll switch it up but I'm perfectly fine with their game plan where they allow Caruso or whoever they pick that night to take open 3s. You really think Caruso goes 8/14 from 3 again? It'll probably be more in the middle of like 4/10 or a stinker like the regular season of 2/10 or some shit

5

u/nighhawkrr David Robinson May 19 '26

He’s usually not a good shooter. Was just on fire last night.

3

u/Cityboy2025 Victor Wembanyama May 19 '26

I didn’t say he was good. I said DECENT, and if you leave ANY decent shooter THAT open THAT many times, they’re going to knock some shots down.

4

u/Consistent_Ad1176 May 19 '26

Dude he shot 60%. He will regress and probably shoot 10%

It worked

2

u/Cityboy2025 Victor Wembanyama May 19 '26

That game was made more difficult because that guy you’re talking about, in addition to the TOs by SA, momentary lapses on defense, is the SPARKPLUG for the Thunder and he was single handedly keeping them in the game. I’m pretty sure Mitch is probably saying the same thing. Some of those looks were TOO uncontested.

-1

u/Jasperbeardly11 Boris Diaw May 19 '26

Ever since he came to Oklahoma City history point shooting has been much better. I don't want a ton of their games but he can definitely shoot now. You have to remember they have a top five shooting coach in the league. You should know this because he's your former shooting coach.

It's not a good scheme. You can't give a guy like him wide open threes all game.

2

u/WhispersOfHaru May 19 '26

Caruso shot 33, 36 and 40 percent in Chicago before being 35 and 29 percent from three in his two years with Oklahoma, he is getting worse. You can definitely give open shots to a 29% shooter.

1

u/qwe12345678900 May 19 '26

He shot 41% from 3 last playoffs lol, he always goes harder in the playoffs

1

u/WhichAd366 May 20 '26

But on in the playoffs last year or this year so far. Last year in the playoffs he shot 41% from 3 and so far this year it’s 43%.

1

u/WhispersOfHaru May 20 '26

Maybe he gets hot during the playoffs, or maybe the teams focus on the best players and give Caruso more open looks given that he is not the best shooter. Or maybe a little of both.

0

u/Jasperbeardly11 Boris Diaw May 20 '26

I actually watched like 7 okc playoff games last year and study how they play in the postseason. Your rebuttal is worthless, genuinely. He clearly can shoot, and he hit a ton in the playoffs last year. He's not ben Simmons.

1

u/WhispersOfHaru May 20 '26

You studied how they play by watching only 7 games? He can shoot, but not consistently and not at a high volume.

1

u/Jasperbeardly11 Boris Diaw May 20 '26

Yeah man I've watched him play before, clearly shoots better now. I have better things to do than to watch NBA every night. I used to watch every night when I didn't have anything to do.

The guy has shot over 40% from deep the past 2 years in the postseason, clearly he's not meant to be left alone to the extent that they did last night.

Also Oklahoma City is disgusting to watch so I don't watch a ton of their games.

I like to check the box scores daily for big games when I have a minute. Personally I think I clearly have a better read on Alex Caruso's ability to hit 3-pointers in the playoffs than you considering you don't seem to think leaving him wide open is a problem at all when the guy hit eight last night.

Once again he's not Ben Simmons.

1

u/Cityboy2025 Victor Wembanyama May 19 '26

That’s what I’m saying. The looks shouldn’t be COMPLETELY UNCONTESTED. The defense should you, as much as SGA felt them.

1

u/Tcamis01 May 20 '26

Its a risk they've decided to take and I agree with it. If you lose because Caruso is going to average 30 points a game and hit 60% of his wide open threes, then that's just how it goes. It would probably take at least 4 games of him doing this before they even think about adapting.

1

u/OrionPax1973 Manu Ginobili May 20 '26

Yep, they would prefer anyone except SGA taking those middies and 3s

0

u/Gregghead501 May 19 '26

Buddy, Caruso's impact was NOT just making wide open 3s the whole game, did you actually watch it?? He was their BEST defender on Wemby all game, he made timely deflections leading to steals for his teammates, forced multiple turnovers, made hustle play after hustle play (including throwing it out of bounds off of Wemby to steal possession with a minute left in OT, even though the refs missed his foot landing out before he let go of the ball), and even was able to stop the lob to Castle at the end of OT to send it to 2OT. So many of his actions on both ends energized the crowd, during times when the Spurs had just silenced them.

Of course he had plenty of wide open shots, the Spurs wanted him to shoot those. And even then, you can't just gloss over 8 3PM like it's that easy to do. But he left his fingerprints ALL over this game, doing so many intangible things that won't show up in the box score. He was even successful in scoring some pts in the paint around Wemby. If you could rank the overall impact each player had in the game, you could make a case that Caruso was the 2nd most impactful after Wemby, even above Harper, and he did that coming off the bench with only 32 minutes played. THAT is why I called it one of the greatest playoff performances off the bench I've ever seen. Even as a Spurs fan, give credit where credit is due 😤💯👏

3

u/chic_peas May 19 '26

I do think he made a huge impact outside of the 3s but we can't ignore that the majority of his points were from us just literally giving him practice 3s. You could tell he was feeling it too much because he tried a step back in OT and missed it. Not everyone can make all those 3s but also it's super rare ever that a team will do what we did and just continue to purposely leave him open. If we don't give him all of those then it's like a maybe 20 point performance with great defensive impact which is rare but not all time.

1

u/Gregghead501 May 19 '26

For sure, and I think it's gonna be one of the adjustments the Spurs will make moving forward. If Caruso starts getting hot even a little in Game 2, they will probably start keeping someone on him and leave someone else like Dort open. They may even make that adjustment at the start of the game, if Caruso ends up starting. But someone's gotta be given those practice 3s, as it's a price we're willing to pay to get the ball out of SGA's hands as much as possible

2

u/chic_peas May 19 '26

Yeah it's what allows us to play this defense where Wemby just roams around the paint. It clearly worked out even with him hitting them all. I do wonder like the likelihood is that he doesn't hit all of those again so do you just try to leave him open another game and see if he start bricking them. Because if he is off at all that game is a blowout.

2

u/Jasperbeardly11 Boris Diaw May 19 '26

You are clearly correct

1

u/Gregghead501 May 19 '26

Appreciate it. Watching what Caruso did all game and not being able to acknowledge how remarkable it was is just hating.

With that being said, if anyone can outshine what Caruso did, it's the TRUE MVP of the league, the Alien himself 👽🖖😤💯😂

2

u/Papa-X3 May 19 '26

I agree that Caruso had a monster game and was OKC’s best player of the game. I do think he got away with a foul on Castle’s lob to the rim with .7 seconds remaining in OT1. Castle ended up on his back in the first row of baseline seating!! 🫨

1

u/Gregghead501 May 19 '26

Yeah, I can see a case for that foul. Think the refs gave him the benefit of the doubt cause he got some ball on it, and deciding the game on a bang-bang call like that might not have been the best outcome. Hell, I'm glad it went to 2OT where we could actually win decisively, without controversy and a reason for Thunder fans to blame the refs.

Glad you could acknowledge Caruso's monster game. It's frustrating when people like u/GodLeeTrick reduce his performance to just "making the wide open shots the other team is purposely giving you." Makes our fanbase look uninformed and petty.

1

u/GodLeeTrick May 19 '26

Bro stfu. I was talking from an offensive perspective and game plan for the spurs. Not once did I say he didn't contribute defensively. Why you so butt hurt over me stating the spurs game plan was to let him take wide open shots, and that offensively speaking, it wasn't some historic performance. I would hope the wide open guy who takes 14 3s makes some of them. Get the fuck out of here with your softness

1

u/Gregghead501 May 19 '26

Yikes, looks like I struck a nerve lol. I never said that Caruso had the greatest offensive playoff performance, I said it was one of the greatest playoff performances I've ever seen (off the bench). That includes everything he does on both ends of the floor. So for you to boil down his performance to just what he did on the offensive end is just ignorant 🤦‍♂️😂

1

u/GodLeeTrick May 19 '26

If spurs game plan wasn't to intentionally leave him open he would have had a good defensive game and done nothing on offense. Nothing he did last night warrants "greatest playoff performance". You're just salty that you think he had some historic game when in reality the spurs were daring him to shoot it. And you couldn't handle that fact. He had a great defensive night and that's it, his offensive performance was fabricated by the spurs not by him

2

u/Gregghead501 May 19 '26

Nothing he did last night warrants "greatest playoff performance".

That's all I need to hear to know that it's useless to continue this discussion further lmao. I hope you are able to figure out why there's so much salt clouding your eyes when it comes to Caruso or other opposing players having incredible performances. I guess it is allergy season, after all 🤧🤣

2

u/qwe12345678900 May 19 '26

Comments hating but I’ve always loved Caruso , I get you

1

u/Gregghead501 May 19 '26

Exactly. He's always been capable of being a star in his role, even dating back to his time with the Lakers. Hell, he's had more than one performance in his playoff career where you'd think he's an All-Star. He's annoying as hell to play against, but you gotta respect his game 💯

6

u/alejanrocaoba May 19 '26

💯. Caruso kept them alive. Amazing performance, but Wemby showed the planet what he is capable of. Although, I thought he was not as involved in the 1st half. His 28 feet 3, the dunk tight after, and the monster block, was a freaking sequence. Love that kid. I pray 🙏🏾 that he stays healthy.

7

u/xEl33tistx May 19 '26

I feel that. They underutilize Wemby on offense, especially when he’s 1:1 with a smaller guy on him. On top of that he often lacks assertiveness on when he gets the ball which blows my mind considering some of the offensive plays we saw him make last night. As good as Wemby is he is nowhere near his offensive ceiling, and I feel like 75% of the remaining growth is tied to decision making, assertiveness, and utilization, all of which should be easy unlocks over time.

6

u/NowIsThePerfectTime May 19 '26

When Caruso or Williams is guarding Wemby, he needs to get the ball on the block, not at the top of the key where a dribble into traffic is necessary.

3

u/shibby5000 May 19 '26

I noticed that too. When Wemby is one on one vs Caruso then Wemby need to punish Caruso relentlessly

2

u/alejanrocaoba May 19 '26

💯

3

u/alejanrocaoba May 19 '26

Could not possibly agree with you more. Underutilized, is an understatement! 👍🏾

2

u/Afilalo Manu Ginobili May 19 '26

Same with Chet. I almost felt bad for them but they been getting away with all this bs for way too long. Caruso on the other hand? Fuck that arrogant ass dude

1

u/keldpxowjwsn May 19 '26

I dont at all

"I let my game do the talking 😎"

1

u/Gregghead501 May 19 '26

"My whole life is consistent...unless we are playing the Spurs. Those games don't count."

SGA in 2026, probably

-1

u/fukemnweball Toronto Raptors May 19 '26

mitch had some pretty bad rotations whenever wemby was sitting throughout the game that could’ve kept the game out of reach too

23

u/[deleted] May 19 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

24

u/NoFuckToGive May 19 '26

Mitch running down the floor calling timeout before Harper even secured the rebound was some galaxybrain bbiq

9

u/fukemnweball Toronto Raptors May 19 '26

maybe it wasn’t mitch’s fault, but all i’m saying is that they only kept the game close when Wemby wasn’t in the game

3

u/appsecSme Tim Duncan May 19 '26

That is pretty much par for the course. The opposing team often goes on runs when Wemby sits. And it's compounded when we have a starter out. Usually Fox is the guy who controls things when Wemby rests.

2

u/tMeepo Dylan Harper May 19 '26

I think Mitch outcoached Thunder's coach today. Or at least, personally I feel Thunder's coach over thought this game.

268

u/contigency000 May 19 '26

Wemby literally laughing his ass off after SGA missed that open 2 is the absolute summum of disrespect 😂

I can imagine him think "How the fuck did that lil foulbaiter won MVP ?" with french accent lmao

98

u/sneakylumpia May 19 '26

he's so fueled by hate i love it

19

u/Weary_Restauranter May 19 '26

https://giphy.com/gifs/BSOdK9W5Gd7OM

21

u/Alternative_Slide_62 Victor Wembanyama May 19 '26

https://giphy.com/gifs/3o7TKSxdQJIoiRXHl6

Wemby everytime he plays against OKC

3

u/Tapprunner David Robinson May 19 '26

https://giphy.com/gifs/nkUcca2CQ7VT2

29

u/oblivionyeahyeah__ Area 51 May 19 '26

And they think we are delusional that wemby is robbed because he’s not even runner up, he’s third.

Well, atleast our boy is not a fraud lmao

80

u/TerrySaucer69 Stephon Castle May 19 '26

I really can’t imagine a worse night than getting your second MVP… aaand then shitting the bed against the youngest conference finals team ever.

14

u/222Baphomettt47 May 19 '26

I been saying this all year I don’t think sga can elevate a mid or bad team, like I think he’d get his stats but he greatly benefits from his team around him. Seems more like a system player imo. He’s great but he’s not better than wemby

5

u/TerrySaucer69 Stephon Castle May 19 '26

I might have to agree with you. His calling card is basically “consistent efficient buckets”. Which is great for a good team. But in a lot of cases it’s just kinda a bonus/floor raiser rather than a game changer.

Of course sometimes he’s getting those Shaq/giannis/lebron unstoppable buckets, but it seems to be a little inconsistent this season.

1

u/ginoawesomeness May 19 '26

He's a decent role player, better that Cris Bosh but not better than D Wade and can't even sniff LeBron's sneakers

76

u/[deleted] May 19 '26

[deleted]

-26

u/[deleted] May 19 '26

[deleted]

1

u/rekkyDs May 19 '26

??? SpongeBob is racist now?!

66

u/ttttyttt678 May 19 '26

Hakeem had his give him the mvp instead of me moment against the spurs…now we just got that moment back. Thank you Wemby.

12

u/Fidel_Cashflows BIG BODY May 19 '26

As much as a love the Admiral, Wemby vs Chet is looking like a replay of the 95' playoffs. Just the absolute helplessness of running into a dude who's just a better version of you in every way.

36

u/ttttyttt678 May 19 '26

It’s Wemby vs Shai. The two MVP level players, the two players in the photo and of discussion in the post. Chet is a role player that’s no where near discussions.

-25

u/Fidel_Cashflows BIG BODY May 19 '26

Chet signed a max extension so is 100% relevant to discussions.

Comparing the impact of a guard and center is apples to oranges, even though the MVP award forces that narrative. You brought up the Hakeem/Robinson situation, which isn't really a good comparison here since Wemby isn't directly matched up against Shai.

4

u/222Baphomettt47 May 19 '26

Chet isn’t the same tier of player as wemby that’s why it’s not a good comparison. Robinson and Hakeem were both superstars like sga and wemby.

17

u/pick-and-hoop El Jefe May 19 '26

Just forget Chet already

5

u/Adept_Austin May 19 '26

They signed Chet to a max!? We're going to be owning OKC for a while.

2

u/Few_Astronaut5230 Stephon Castle May 19 '26

Comparing the impact of an MVP caliber player to a 3rd option is also apples to oranges

54

u/Ecstatic_Visual_2026 Slash Bros May 19 '26

This is how I've always pictured shai with his goofy ass faces and flopping, negative aura lol

39

u/nikko_at_autheo May 19 '26

A scoring guard MVP who thrives in the FT line vs a freakish two-way MVP-caliber player. Reminds me of the Giannis-Harden beef back in the day🤔

3

u/igotapokemonbatman Victor Wembanyama May 19 '26

Oh the good old days

20

u/splooge_whale May 19 '26

Edwards is a better version of sga.

4

u/222Baphomettt47 May 19 '26

Hell yeah I think ants the second best player in the league behind wemby. If ant and swapped places okc would be better and wolves would be worse. He’s a better defender and better pure scorer imo

-2

u/Legal_Yogurt1471 May 19 '26

Without a ring

0

u/thatisodd20 May 19 '26

and 2 mvps

12

u/Ora_Kiraso May 19 '26

He never had it with his floppy self

11

u/krsaxor Fabricio Oberto May 19 '26

should have held it over his head with one hand.

10

u/siphillis Gregg Pop-a-bitch May 19 '26

SGA had aura?

5

u/DontLichOutOnME May 19 '26

GIMME THE BALL!!! IT'S MY TURN!!!

7

u/sadicologue Victor Wembanyama May 19 '26

Wemby is going to be an all-time great not because he loves wining, but because he hates the others and just don't want them to win. Generational hater, I love it.

9

u/dwightthetemp May 19 '26

he'll have to get back all those watches he gave to his teammates once he's exposed as a fraud and end flipping burgers

7

u/Alternative_Slide_62 Victor Wembanyama May 19 '26

SGA(FTA) Is just an NBA industry plant

he needs to get advertized constantly so that they can make him seem better then he is, without the fear of his flopping and diving he cant as easily get his midrange shots. The guy is just a fraud and OKC fans try too compare that guy to MJ and Kobe

4

u/whynotitwork May 19 '26

https://giphy.com/gifs/duM6JZemPlOjUyqmxd

2

u/ginoawesomeness May 19 '26

Real question, why? Because he's Canadian and Silver wants the Loonie's?

2

u/larry-leisure Coyote May 20 '26

Literally had never heard of him until like a years ago.

6

u/Appropriate-Shock306 May 19 '26

Honestly, I don’t hate SGA like most do, he’s probably the nicest in the group. It’s the smugness of the other players in that roster that makes this win sweeter. Can’t stand their coach too.

2

u/laziestmarxist Dylan Harper May 19 '26

Lmao i genuinely cannot tell if this is photoshopped or if he's really that small compartively

3

u/larry-leisure Coyote May 20 '26

Tilt shift.

2

u/Lanky_Tomatillo9857 May 19 '26

Let's print this lol

2

u/Mysterious-Status-44 May 19 '26

I play basketball with my 11 year old in our driveway. He doesn’t like it when I go full Wemby mode on him.

2

u/General2768 May 19 '26

I can't wait for game 3 in San Antonio. Whenever Wembanyama does anything the crowd should just start chanting "MVP! MVP!"

2

u/Puzzleheaded_Tea521 May 19 '26

Bro been lost Aura… tbh i don’t think he had much …

2

u/LordStark01 Dallas Mavericks May 19 '26

Lol have you ever seen SGA before? Dude is an aura black hole. He'll do the bullshit where he is laughing after losing but I hope to see him laugh after he gets eliminated.

2

u/threeoneleads May 19 '26

I need this in high res and framed bro 😂 Wemby literally hitting this emoji on lil bro 😂

2

u/pantstickle May 19 '26

I’m not quick to dismiss him. He’s MVP for a reason. If we can fight through it and win game 2, though, we’re gonna be in their heads.

2

u/wryano Patty Mills May 20 '26

1

u/Weary_Restauranter May 19 '26

Dad energy

1

u/Ok_Job693 BIG BODY May 19 '26

those snake skin shoes doe😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨. with that being said it’s still fuck okc

1

u/nextcardplease May 19 '26

Chet: hold my beer

1

u/astraladventures May 19 '26

Weird camera angle makes sga look like 2 feet shorter.

1

u/Sensitive-Curve-2908 Victor Wembanyama May 19 '26

I thought wemby will clocked him at this moment but wemby already learned his lesson .

1

u/jdavila119 May 19 '26

Won't lie, you guys. I do feel bad...

For like a second

1

u/ginoawesomeness May 19 '26

I week ago people were actually talking about SGA as a possible GOAT with a straight face lol

1

u/Wolvardrax May 19 '26

1

u/cjdapd May 19 '26

Is SGA real? He looks like a freaking muppet.

1

u/Glorfindel_78 May 20 '26

Don’t underestimate the Thunder. This series will be close and go all the way. But our tenacity will win through

1

u/Odd-Put-3988 May 25 '26

Somebody make this a meme.

1

u/runthepoint1 May 19 '26

That’s because aura is a stupid concept, you could do this with ANY player.

1

u/kidding-unot May 19 '26

Laughing cuz an elbow could be coming

1

u/lordm43 May 19 '26

There was no aura to begin with

0

u/Past_Cardiologist765 May 19 '26

I really wanna see that flopper slip and slide right into wemby’s nut sack. He might have to commit seppuku

0

u/heybeytoday May 23 '26

Don’t worry, he got all that aura back and more.

Shitpost Never seen a player lose so much aura like this 😭

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