Behind the Wemby Effect: How the Spurs smother their opponents (and what teams can do about it)

You don’t need me to tell you that Victor Wembanyama is a force defensively. There is a visual, visceral loudness to what Wemby brings to the table that can be seen by many. The question to me is: What are opposing teams trying to do about Wemby?

One of my favorite subplots is watching as announcers talk about the “Wemby Effect” (when teams stop driving), but Eurostep over the attempts coaches and players are making to poke at his impact. The blocks are fun, but let’s walk through the little things that have allowed Wemby’s defensive impact to stick night in and night out.

Advertisement

How the Spurs keep Wemby near the paint

One of the keys for San Antonio is the effort to keep Wembanyama in a position to rotate and protect the rim. Random possessions where an attack may look available feel a little different once you see Wembanyama’s presence in the paint.

[Subscribe to Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube]

In an ideal setting, the Spurs operate at their best when Wembanyama is planted on the block with his primary assignment being whoever is in the corner. This allows the Spurs guards and wings to pressure, switch and funnel drives toward the paint. With Wembanyama’s size, speed and timing, openings can close quick and drives can be discouraged. If teams run pick-and-roll when Wembanyama is defending the weakside corner, he will rotate to take the roller, point for the guard to close out to his man, and, just like that, the Spurs’ defense is set again. Wembanyama is free to roam and protect the paint. And if teams put him back in action, he can take away the paint and switch if you dribble too far.

The tricky part is opponents have to understand how hard the Spurs work to get Wembanyama in that low man, help position. The ability to contain drives or block shots at the rim will get all the rage, but I’m a fan of the little things. When the Spurs reset their defense after a made basket, watch Wembanyama. More times than not you’ll see him pointing and communicating, making sure everyone is matched up so he can get in his spot.

In the play above, Oklahoma City worked to get to a guard/guard screen with an…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/behind-the-wemby-effect-how-the-spurs-smother-their-opponents-and-what-teams-can-do-about-it-174411833.html

Author : Steve Jones

Publish date : 2026-01-15 17:44:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.