A nine-point lead lost, a 30-11 run surrendered, a 0-1 deficit, and a huge opportunity squandered. 

What on Earth could the Thunder have to be happy about?

Here's the reality. For 36 minutes, the Thunder put together a formula to beat the almighty, unstoppable, invincible San Antonio Spurs. It was a sound plan. In light of the Spurs' victory, people are tossing aside the Thunder's progress as if it was irrelevant. 

The Turnovers: "Oh, the Spurs will tighten up the game." Thing is, that's a huge part of why the Grizzlies beat the Spurs' offense last season. When you rely on ball movement and creating open looks, that tears up teams that play possession defense. But if you rely on ball movement and creating open looks and the opponent plays the passing lane, it means turnovers. You have to be fast. The Thunder are fast. You have to be long. The Thunder are long.

The Spurs were sloppy, but this is a strategy the Thunder can duplicate, if they don't do things like leave Thabo Sefolosha out the entire fourth quarter.

The Pace: The Thunder got the ball up and down the floor and attacked. That's what they have to do. The Spurs adjusted in the fourth, drawing charges on the overly aggressive Thunder. Their biggest liability was in trying to go 1-on-2 at times. A little more ball movement in transition and the points add up.

The Offense: In the fourth quarter, when the Thunder "collapsed"? They still had a 110 offensive efficiency. That's great. Really, outside of the first quarter, OKC's offense was in good shape. They were defeated by a crack offense that got hot for a quarter.  The misses for three-quarters of the game were built upon long, dedicated defenders for OKC attacking and playing smart. That went away in the fourth. Tht's a concern, but fixable.

The Thunder proved they can hang with the Spurs. It was Game 1, on the road. The Spurs can play better. The Thunder can play better. They nearly had it, had it not been for Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter and Gary Neal going ballistic in the fourth. The Thunder have to make major adjustments.

But the formula is there.

This series is just getting started.