ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill: Only These Two Things Can Prevent a Thunder Repeat

The Oklahoma City Thunder are about to close out the Los Angeles Lakers. ESPN's Vincent Goodwill came on the show to identify the only two things that can prevent them from winning the title.

San Antonio. Or health.

Rich set the table on the Lakers' free-throw discrepancy.

"The Lakers had 15 more free throw attempts than the Thunder in game three," Rich said. "Fifteen. They had 25 to the Thunder's 10."

Goodwill picked up his fake phone.

"Hold on, my phone is ringing," Goodwill said. "I think the 2002 Sacramento Kings are calling, asking about the Lakers complaining about free throw calls."

The substantive answer started with the obvious.

"The only way this team doesn't wind up holding up the trophy is if San Antonio, who has had their number this year, takes them out, or B, health catches them," Goodwill said.

The health piece was specific.

"Jalen Williams, J-Dub, the All-Star J-Dub, he's been out with a hamstring injury," Goodwill said. "He's only played less than 30 games this season, and he's out right now. You're hoping from the standpoint of competitiveness that he gets back on the floor and that he's healthy."

The remarkable part of the Lakers series, in Goodwill's framing, is that OKC is doing it without any vintage SGA game.

"Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they're doing all this work against the Lakers, and the presumptive MVP hasn't had one MVP-like game," Goodwill said. "They are an absolute machine right now."

The Western Conference Finals look, in his read, will tell the real story.

"I'm very much looking forward to seeing the Western Conference Finals," Goodwill said. "I think Minnesota, if they get there, this will be their third straight trip. A little bit of desperation will kick in. A little bit of this Anthony Edwards will start to kick in."

The Spurs piece was the more interesting one to him.

"San Antonio, as I mentioned before, Victor Wembanyama learns really quickly, and he despises the Oklahoma City Thunder in ways that a young player should not despise another team," Goodwill said.

The closing case Goodwill made was about how good rivalry is for the league.

"In addition to Detroit and Cleveland not liking each other, in addition to Detroit and New York hating each other, if we wind up getting that matchup, hatred is good for the NBA," Goodwill said. "Hatred sells, and so does physicality. Let the boys play."