Film Breakdown: Analyzing Victor Wembanyama’s matchup against Anthony Davis

Let’s delve into the first showdown between these two talented big men.

As Tuesday night approaches, disappointment looms for NBA enthusiasts anticipating Victor Wembanyama’s participation for San Antonio against Milwaukee due to ankle soreness. The awaited showdown between Wemby and Giannis Antetokounmpo will have to wait. Yet, let’s take this moment to delve into the film room.

A remarkable breakdown in this video captures last Wednesday’s exciting duel between the rookie and seasoned all-star Anthony Davis. Witnessing them square off on 68 possessions provides ample material for analysis. While Davis emerged victorious on the offensive front, scoring 24 points with a 69% true shooting, these statistics only scratched the surface.

A discerning eye reveals a riveting chess match between the two players. Davis leveraged his seasoned patience and refined offensive skills to lure the rookie into defensive mistakes. Notably, Wemby found himself outmaneuvered twice, getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

On Davis’s thunderous dunk over the rookie—a sequence orchestrated through a jab step, an explosive baseline drive, and a slight shoulder drop that created separation for the slam. This mesmerizing combination of moves kept Wemby off-balance, as demonstrated in the Lakers’ subsequent possession with AD utilizing a hesitation dribble to carve out space for a midrange shot.

Although the first half saw Davis schooling the rookie, Wembanyama exhibited a resurgence in the latter part of the game. His defensive prowess improved, coinciding with the Spurs’ shift to zone defenses that alleviated some pressure on Wemby. Moreover, his offensive game gained momentum as the match progressed, culminating in a fourth-quarter explosion of 14 points. The epitome of his diverse skill set was showcased in a stunning step-back three-pointer in the final two minutes.

Both bigs concluded the game with 30-plus points, leaving a memorable impact on multiple facets of the game. While Davis may have outshone Victor in their initial meeting, it’s imperative to acknowledge that the rookie is only 19 years old. It serves as a stark reminder that to beat Wemby individually, an opponent must possess a skill set to the calibre of Anthony Davis. The future is very bright for Wembanyama.

I don’t usually dive into fan fiction, but this idea seems compelling. Picture Wemby holding down the paint, compensating for Trae’s defensive gaps.

These misplays are why I daydream about the addition of a top-notch passing point guard, someone like Trae Young.

It’s no shocker that the rookie dominates close to the basket, but his shots from midrange and beyond the arc will improve. With his solid shooting form, I anticipate significant progress next season.

Lastly, I’m a big fan of the new Barcode advert, showcasing the rookie sensation. It’s pretty cool to see those throwback clips from his teenage years.