AUSTIN, Texas — The subtle significance of Victor Wembanyama’s potential game-tying layup attempt — resulting in an incredible block by Rockets wing Amen Thompson — should not be buried underneath the rubble of a surprising 0-2 start by the San Antonio Spurs.
It would be unwise and disingenuous to shovel the bulk of blame for San Antonio’s sluggish showing on the Frenchman’s sleek shoulders. Yes, he shot just 3-for-11 in the second half (9-for-21 from the field overall) and succumbed to opposing, wide-ranging physicality for the second time this week. These are simply more hurdles for the superstar to maneuver on the path to basketball immortality — similar to a handful of his Finals mishaps.
But the Spurs’ overreliance on the 22-year-old in an attempt to override a season-opening embarrassment to Oklahoma City are symptoms of a lineup switch and three-guard approach that has yet to bear fruit.
“We made some mistakes that were very costly,” Wembanyama said following the 114-110 loss at the Moody Center. “That’s our problem. We work hard for a time and then we go away. But it was better [than last game].”
For all the potential problems San Antonio’s three-pronged guard roulette can cause teams, Friday night was a prime example of the rough spots that still remain. The Spurs’ starters were minus-11 in 11 minutes together, producing a meager offensive rating of 76.4 and a walloping minus-47 net rating. Narrowing that production down to new starter Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio lost their minutes by 12, with just six assists to four turnovers.
Their issue is two-fold. Outside of Wembanyama, there’s not a true pecking order or offensive flow between the three guards, which can make things confusing in high-pressure moments. Fox was once again diminished in the final frame, both from usage and shot-creation standpoints, attempting just one shot compared to 10 combined from Castle and Harper.
Wembanyanma was naturally going to assume a more aggressive role after a subdued opener, which is another interesting angle given what we saw and heard in training camp and preseason about him becoming more of a playmaker. He logged just two assists on the evening, but they were arguably two of San Antonio’s brightest possessions, with Wemby absorbing contact and attention before spraying out to Castle on the perimeter and again at the rim. As the season goes on, both Wembanyama and the coaching staff will need to find the optimal balance between his scorer and creator roles.
But stylistically, it’s difficult to envision teams not packing the paint and not daring the Spurs to beat them from the outside — especially if Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie aren’t utilized enough. Houston looked extremely comfortable sitting back, forming mini walls of obstruction, stunting on drives and embracing a perimeter onslaught that never truly came. Castle missed six of his nine attempts from deep, and Harper has now started the season making just one of his six 3-point shots.
“We want to live with some guys making some shots,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said, “and help on others. They have some really good one-on-one players, and we felt we could show a crowd and make some plays there — and I think we did that. The plan was to keep their points in the paint low, and they can beat us from 3.”
Perhaps it’s still too early to make judgment calls on this brave new lineup. When it works, and it certainly will at some point, teams will be caught in the crosshairs of San Antonio’s speed and downhill daggers. But the Spurs looked the most dangerous — and analytically speaking performed the best — when both Vassell and Champagnie were on the floor. There’s a certain familiarity that comes with knowing teams can’t simply load up in the box with two bona fide floor spacers on the perimeter, which in turn gives the Spurs a better balance. Small sample size or not, it’s strange that a team as talented as San Antonio currently finds itself ranked 22nd in offensive efficiency, 17th in halfcourt points per play and 21st in effective field-goal percentage.
“I feel like we’re comfortable with it,” said Wembanyama, who finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. “We’ve finished games with this lineup before and in the playoffs as well. It’s not a concern for us.”
As the losses pile up, the questions will as well. This team holds itself in such high regard — as does the rest of the basketball world — but this is a different challenge, a new frontier to conquer. The more the Spurs’ offensive output looks less like a multi-faceted unit and more like a battering ram, the less dangerous this group looks to its rivals. Wembanyama’s gargantuan wingspan can only account for so much.