NBA Finals: OG Anunoby and the Knicks at Spurs

A match within the match. Among the 20 players who have defended Wembanyama in at least 100 half-court sequences since his arrival in the NBA, OG Anunoby is the one against whom the Frenchman has produced the fewest points per 100 matchups as a main defensive assignment. A data highlighted by the analyst Caitlin Cooper, and which immediately places the winger of the Knicks in a category apart. This means that the Nigerian will be a major asset for New York, which has been running behind a title since 1976.

Anunoby has precisely the qualities that coaches look for when they have to devise a plan to slow down Wembanyama: power, lateral mobility, great wingspan and remarkable defensive discipline. Where most defenders suffer the size of the French pivot or find themselves out of balance on contact, Anunoby is able to resist contact, contest catches and prevent Wembanyama from easily gaining his preferred positions.

It’s not a question of stopping Wembanyama, no one seems really able to do it today, but of reducing his comfort level, disrupting his rhythm, forcing him to work every centimeter of ground.

Global stats that nuance the table 
However, be careful not to over-interpret this defensive fact. The overall figures for the two men’s matches do not necessarily tell the same story: Wembanyama averaged 29.5 points, 13.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in his four games against Anunoby since he joined the NBA. The lesson here is valuable: a successful individual duel and a final stat sheet are two stories that can be read separately.

However, it should be noted that Anunoby had the best playoffs of his career with averages of 19.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, while showing excellent shooting skills of 57.7% and 48.3% at three points.

What San Antonio needs to do 
For the Spurs, the challenge will probably be to prevent this duel from becoming too predictable. Wembanyama will have to multiply the moves, attack on the move, serve as a creator for his teammates when the two-man strikes arrive and exploit the spaces created by the constant attention that the New York defense will give him.

The risk for New York
However, it would be a huge risk to let OG Anunoby manage Victor Wembanyama alone. Indeed, the latter could win the match by himself if he takes over. Case law Alex Caruso can attest to this: Oklahoma let him score Wembanyama alone, and the Frenchman won the individual and collective battle.

It will therefore be up to OG Anunoby and the Knicks to orchestrate a clever mix between individual defense and collective battle to limit Wemby’s impact in this game.

The ultimate issue 
If the Knicks want to contain the Texas attack, much of their plan will have to go through Anunoby. And conversely, if Wembanyama still manages to impose his pace and production standards against the one who seems to be his most effective defender since he joined the league, it will be a further demonstration of the extent of his talent.

Tonight in Texas, every possession between these two men could tell something great. A phenomenon against one of the best defenders on the planet. See you tonight.