Victor Wembanyama was not an MVP favorite when the season began, but after five games, he was suddenly one of the favorites. Since starting the season 5–0, the Spurs have cooled off and lost two in a row. There is no denying that Wemby can win the MVP, maybe even this year. But if we look at the two recent losses, it is clear that he and the team need to work on a couple more aspects. After that, they will be serious title contenders.
Two Flaws That Could Cost Victor Wembanyama His First MVP
Wembanyama blocks shots like Rudy Gobert, shoots like Kevin Durant, and moves like a guard. Yet there are two things holding him and the Spurs back from dominating and becoming true title contenders.
Victor has already changed how we think about basketball. Yet even generational talents have weak spots. The difference between great players and good players is that the great ones work on their flaws and eventually become unguardable. Will that happen with Wembanyama? We’ll have to wait and see. But there are two things he has to improve.
Wemby Needs to Improve His Post Game
The Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers showed that there is a way to guard Wemby with wings. For example, the Suns started Royce O’Neale as the primary defender on the French phenomenon. The Lakers used Rui Hachimura. In both cases, their centers were free to prevent any lob threats that might come. That strategy worked, as Wemby scored only nine points against the Suns and finished with 19 against the Lakers. In both games, he shot less than 40% from the floor.
This summer, the former Rookie of the Year worked with Hakeem Olajuwon on his game, but he probably needs one more summer before he’s able to consistently post up and punish smaller players. Every great player has had to face that awkward matchup. Dallas Mavericks fans still praise J.J. Barea for defending LeBron James in the 2011 NBA Finals. During last year’s playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder put Alex Caruso on Nikola Jokić, and it worked. When LeBron improved his post game, he became impossible to guard and dominated for the next few years like never before.
The Spurs Need More Shooting
Another thing that the Phoenix Suns did successfully against Wembanyama was to double him, often from his blind spot, leaving him unable to sense it. The best way to combat such a strategy is by swinging passes until you find an open three-point shooter. The problem is that the Spurs lack shooting. Through seven games, only four players have averaged 35% or better from behind the arc, and one of them is Jeremy Sochan, who only recently returned for the game against the Lakers. The other three are Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, and Dylan Harper, the latter of whom will be out for a while.
There is no reinforcement coming on that end. Even when De’Aaron Fox returns, their shooting will not improve, as he has shot above 36% only twice in his career. For the Spurs to become true championship contenders, they need to add shooting around their superstar. And for Victor Wembanyama to have a chance to win an MVP award, he needs to work on his post game. He cannot let small wings and guards defend him. Maybe he needs to take some lessons from Shaquille O’Neal.
© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The post Two Flaws That Could Cost Victor Wembanyama His First MVP appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.