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Victor Wembanyama is playing off the ball for the Spurs, and the Mavericks are next
The Spurs tried Wembanyama as a creator from the top of the 3-point line in the preseason, and his season has taken a different shape.
A preseason experiment that has not stuck
During the preseason, the Spurs experimented with having Victor Wembanyama create more from the top of the 3-point line. [1] He has not done this consistently so far this season. [1]
Instead, Wembanyama has been playing more off-ball. [1] That change affects how the Spurs build their offense around the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. [2]
What Wembanyama is doing instead
Wembanyama is bringing the ball up the floor less and posting up less, while taking more threes and rolling to the basket more consistently. [1] He has also been setting more screens and either rolling to the rim or sliding to the free-throw line for midrange jumpers. [1]
The midrange shots have not gone well, since he has shot poorly from there so far. [1] The rolls have helped, because he has benefited from rolling to the basket and catching more alley-oops. [1]
Pick-and-roll is new territory for him. [1] Wembanyama barely ran it over his first three seasons, often popping out to the 3-point line instead. [1]
Why the Spurs may have gone this way
Coach Mitch Johnson may have opted away from using Wembanyama as a playmaker, since the Spurs already start three point guards. [1] De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper give the Spurs a wealth of playmakers. [1]
Because Wembanyama is a big target, those three guards can create for him. [1] The article describes the shift as a good trade-off that maximizes his efficiency by focusing on what he does best. [1]
How his shooting and rolling open the floor
Wembanyama's ability to make threes forces opposing centers away from the rim. [1] That frees the Spurs' guards to backdoor cut. [1]
When he rolls to the basket, he often draws a second defender. [1] That frees a Spurs shooter in the corner. [1]
The passing question
The article says Wembanyama has been frustratingly underutilized as a passer. [1] In limited opportunities, he has shown he is a very good passer. [1]
Against the Jazz on Monday, he had five assists. [3]
The Jazz game
Wembanyama had 12 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, one steal and three blocks in the Jazz game on Monday. [3] He missed all five of his three-point attempts. [3]
He had scored at least 29 points in each of his last three games entering that game. [3] He is averaging 10.7 rebounds per game. [2]
What to watch against the Mavericks
If you follow the Spurs, watch how Wembanyama is used. [1] His next game is a home matchup against the Mavericks on Wednesday. [3]
[2] The Spurs host the Mavericks at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, November 4, at 9:30 p.m. ET [2].
Check whether he brings the ball up the floor, posts up, takes threes and rolls to the basket in the same mix as before. [1] Also watch whether the Spurs go back to having him create from the top of the 3-point line, which he has not done consistently this season. [1]
Sources
- Spurs still haven't fully unlocked Victor Wembanyama's playmaking — airalamo.com
- Victor Wembanyama Reaching Inhuman Status in Spurs' 4-Game Win Streak — roundtable.io
- Victor Wembanyama has 12/11/5/1/3 line in win — nbcsports.com
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