Going into Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals, a few things felt particularly noteworthy. Obviously, the biggest one was the New York Knicks being on the brink of winning their first championship in 53 years. Another was how Victor Wembanyama and the young San Antonio Spurs might handle a precarious 3-1 deficit. But one of the more fascinating storylines was just how close the series was and how easily we could have been in different situations.There was a point at which the Knicks looked like they were on the verge of sweeping the Spurs, only for San Antonio to find a way to eke out a win during the final moments of Game 3. The Spurs also nearly won the first two games, collapsing in the second half of both in different ways. In fact, they collapsed in every game but managed to win one. The “what if?” that the Spurs and their fans will kick around lies in the different machinations:“The Spurs could have been up 2-0 after the first two.”“The Spurs could have been up 3-1.”“This series could have and should have been 2-2 after four.”To watch a team go up double digits in every game, especially so early, was incredible. The Spurs would come out of the gates and put their best effort toward the Knicks. They executed their game plans perfectly. Then the Knicks showed they can take a punch.The Knicks always weathered the storm and forced the Spurs to face their own youth and inexperience. Every pressure-packed moment featured the Spurs fighting waves in the ocean while the Knicks seemed to treat the unruly sea like a warm bath. It’s a big part of why this series had so many possibilities and probabilities, but only one consistent and destined outcome.