Trying to stop Victor Wembanyama is going to give NBA defenses headaches for the next decade. His utter dominance, combined with the uniqueness of his game, has people scrambling to figure out the best way to guard him.
In Game 1 of the Finals, the Knicks showed a blueprint for solving the Wemby matchup puzzle, one that could become the widespread strategy moving forward. This is good news for the Portland Trail Blazers, because they have the right personnel to follow in New York’s footsteps in Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara.
Knicks have the right matchups for Victor Wembanyama
In Game 1, New York used Karl-Anthony Towns as their chief Alien hunter, and they found success in doing so. Towns held Wembanyama to 2/11 from the floor and forced him into five turnovers as the closest defender. Wemby posted a tour date on the night overall, going just 6/21 from the field.
Towns was about as perfect as one can be against the San Antonio superstar. His strength is superior to Wemby’s, and he used his frame to bump the Frenchman off his spots and keep him from getting all the way to the rim. Most of Wemby’s shots against KAT were tough, leaning jumpers that very few players can make at a high clip.
On top of that, somewhat surprisingly, the usually foul-prone Towns stayed pretty disciplined, defending with his feet and body, not his hands (although he did ultimately pick up four fouls).
The Knicks also mixed in some Mitchell Robinson vs. Wemby action, and Robinson did a solid job in his own right. What Mike Brown didn’t unleash, but has in his back pocket as a secret weapon, is OG Anunoby.
Anunoby, who made the All-Defensive Second Team this year, was New York’s primary Wemby defender in the regular season. His strength, lateral quickness, hands, and grit allow him to get in Wembanyama’s grill on the perimeter and make dribbling really tough for him. Wemby’s height is typically a major advantage, but it can also be a weakness when shorter defenders are able to limit his floor game. After all, he generally wants to face up and drive or shoot, not post up on the block.
Blazers can follow New York’s blueprint with Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan
The Trail Blazers should be watching what New York did in Game 1 with excitement. In Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara, they have two elite young defenders who could give Wemby the same troubles KAT and Anunoby have.
Clingan is the real X-Factor here, as he’s more unproven than Camara and has more development to do. If it all comes together for the 22-year-old, he could become quite the formidable challenger to the future face of the league.
Of course, Portland didn’t have much luck trying to slow Wembanyama down in the first round of the playoffs, but that shouldn’t discourage them. The Blazers are young, and their ascension is just beginning. If all goes to plan, Clingan and Camara could eventually lead them in victorious battles over the Spurs, who look like the NBA’s next team to beat.
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