The 5 changes that the Spurs need to make to come back in the 2026 NBA Finals

The first game of the 2026 NBA Finals left better feelings for the New York Knicks than for the San Antonio Spurs. The Texan team fell 105-95 at home and now faces the second encounter needing to make adjustments to avoid traveling to New York with a dangerous 0-2 in the series.

The good news for the Spurs is that many of the issues identified in Game 1 have solutions. From the inaccuracy from beyond the arc to the low performance of some key players, San Antonio has enough room for improvement to balance a Finals that have just begun.

Regaining accuracy from the three-point line

If there is a statistic that summarizes much of San Antonio's offensive problems in the first game, it is their 25.6% three-point shooting.

The Spurs generated numerous open shots but were unable to convert them consistently. In such tightly contested Finals, wasting many opportunities from the perimeter ends up having a huge impact on the outcome.

Furthermore, the outside inaccuracy greatly facilitates the Knicks' defensive work. If opponents do not punish from the outside, the defense can concentrate many more efforts on closing spaces for Victor Wembanyama and making it difficult for him to receive near the hoop.

San Antonio doesn't need to become a three-point scoring machine, but it does need to approach much more reasonable percentages for its offense to work normally.

The Spurs need much more from De'Aaron Fox

The defeat in the first game once again highlighted the tough time De'Aaron Fox is going through.

The point guard arrived in Texas to become the main partner of Wembanyama and one of the offensive focal points of the team. However, his recent performances are a cause for concern. In his last five games, he scored 7, 15, 5, 9, and 12 points, with shooting percentages of 23.1%, 50%, 11.1%, 26.7%, and 38.5%, respectively.

These numbers are too low for a player who should assume a huge responsibility in an NBA Finals series.

San Antonio needs to recover Fox's best version, the one that constantly attacks the paint, creates advantages, and forces opposing defenses to make uncomfortable decisions. If he continues on this track, much of the offensive burden will continue to fall solely on Wembanyama.

Giving Harper more prominence in offensive creation

One of the most interesting adjustments the coaching staff can make is to increase Dylan Harper's influence as a game organizer.

The young player has shown throughout the season an unusually high ability to read offensive situations, control the pace, and find teammates in favorable positions. At certain times in the first game, it felt like the Spurs operated more smoothly when the ball went through his hands.

It's not about diminishing Fox's role but diversifying the team's direction and preventing the offense from becoming too predictable.

The more quality decisions Harper can generate, the harder it will be for the Knicks to focus solely on stopping San Antonio's two big stars.

Reducing turnovers

Another aspect the Spurs must immediately correct is turnovers.

San Antonio ended the first game with 13 turnovers, a number that allowed the Knicks to score several easy baskets and find points in transition without the need to build long offensive plays.

What's concerning is that many of those turnovers were avoidable. Poor decisions, communication errors, and rushed actions gifted possessions that hold tremendous value in a Finals context.

The gap between the two teams doesn't seem particularly wide, so giving the opponent opportunities could become a decisive issue as the series progresses.

Facilitating Wembanyama's work and finding solutions for Brunson

Victor Wembanyama once again shouldered a heavy offensive load, but the Spurs can still do much more to assist their top star.

During too many parts of the game, the Frenchman received far from the basket and had to create difficult situations by himself. San Antonio needs to work more for him, using screens, cuts, and movements that allow him to receive in advantageous positions near the hoop.

The more time Wembanyama spends attacking from the paint, the harder it will be for New York's defense to contain him without creating spaces for his teammates.

On the other end of the court, some adjustments may be necessary as well. Jalen Brunson once again showed why he is one of the most influential players in these playoffs and managed several stretches of the game too comfortably.

The Spurs could explore specific two-on-one situations to force him to give up the ball and have other Knicks players take on offensive creation. It's a risky strategy, but after the first game, it's clear that San Antonio needs to present something different to try to limit the influence of the New York star.

The series is far from decided

The loss in Game 1 is a significant blow for the Spurs, but by no means a verdict.

The Finals have just begun, and the Texan team has demonstrated throughout the season that they have enough talent to respond to challenging situations. Additionally, many of the issues identified in the first game seem more related to execution than to a real gap in level between the two teams.

If San Antonio can improve its outside accuracy, regain Fox's best form, take better care of the ball, and create more favorable situations for Wembanyama, the second game could present a very different image of the 2026 NBA Finals.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los 5 cambios que necesitan hacer los Spurs para remontar las Finales NBA 2026