Wembanyama beat the Suns twice, and the most impressive thing about the whole game was: smooth breakthroughs, soft basket feel, and crisp jump shots.
Let's take a closer look at the tactics that the Spurs have created for Wembanyama.
The Spurs drew the Suns defense with a "three-out, two-in" formation, with three players on the perimeter and two big men on either side of the box.
Collins set up a barrier for Wembanyama, and then Wemban, who quickly lifted him to the free-throw line to catch the ball.
That's it! I told you, it's not complicated.
While the tactic is simple, there are several reasons why this tactic is so effective against Wembanyama.
One of Wembanyama's biggest headaches is physical confrontation. He's taller than all the players, but stronger defenders like the Mavericks' Grant Williams can keep him away from the basket. Therefore, the Spurs must reduce the number of duels before Wemban's reception.
Wembanyama is unique in that he is 7'4" tall but has point guard skills. He has the ability to do some really "outrageous" things with the ball in his hands, because he is also a good shooter, and even Durant, who also has excellent reach and excellent jump, will have a hard time substantially interfering with the "champion's" shot.
So in a nutshell, Spurs' "instruction manual" for Wembanyama is as follows:
The offensive touch point must be "deep"
Near the paint area, the defenders swirled around Wemban for an assist
Near the free throw line, jump shot or breakaway
Outside the three-point line, attract misalignments and get one-on-one opportunities