Mitch Johnson has too many levers left for one night to make OKC uncatchable

Writer Jahlil Williams argues that an opening-night loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder does not mean the San Antonio Spurs cannot catch their rivals. Williams pushes back against Bill Simmons' postgame claim that OKC remains out of reach, noting that the Thunder entered the contest with extra motivation after falling to the Spurs in Game 7 of the previous postseason.

Williams highlights that head coach Mitch Johnson is experimenting with an unconventional small-ball starting lineup that will require time to adjust. He notes that Johnson maintains multiple tactical options, including inserting Julian Champagnie or Tobias Harris into the lineup, while Victor Wembanyama's 1-of-13 shooting display is unlikely to persist across an 82-game season.