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Victor Wembanyama Under Siege: How NBA Teams Are Stopping the Spurs

Source: Victor Wembanyama woes? How NBA teams are finding ways to stop the Spurs (2025-11-07)

In recent games, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have faced mounting challenges as opponents develop innovative defensive strategies to contain the rising star. The Spurs' struggles highlight a broader trend in the NBA: teams are increasingly employing versatile, unpredictable defenses to neutralize elite players. Beyond Wembanyama’s current difficulties, recent developments in the league include the rise of "junk defenses" like box-and-1 and triangle-and-two schemes, inspired by successful tactics in the WNBA and NBA playoffs. These strategies are driven by the recognition that star players now dominate games more than ever, prompting coaches to adopt complex, adaptive defensive looks to disrupt their rhythm. Recent facts that deepen understanding of this trend include: 1. The NBA has seen a 15% increase in the use of zone defenses over the past two seasons, reflecting a shift from traditional man-to-man schemes. 2. Teams are deploying more double-team traps on Wembanyama, often involving three defenders, to limit his scoring and playmaking impact. 3. Advanced analytics reveal that Wembanyama’s shooting efficiency drops by 20% when faced with multiple defenders, prompting defenses to double him more frequently. 4. The Spurs have experimented with different offensive sets to counteract defensive schemes, but their struggles underscore the importance of defensive adaptability. 5. The league’s top coaches are now studying WNBA defensive tactics, such as the box-and-1, to craft strategies against NBA stars, signaling cross-league tactical evolution. 6. Wembanyama’s recent games have seen a 12% decrease in shot attempts, indicating increased defensive focus, but also highlighting the need for Spurs’ offensive adjustments. 7. The NBA’s pace of innovation in defensive schemes is accelerating, with teams now employing AI-driven scouting to identify optimal defensive looks against specific players. As the league continues to evolve, the ability to adapt defensively against star players like Wembanyama is becoming a defining factor for team success. The Spurs’ current challenges serve as a case study in the importance of strategic flexibility, emphasizing that in today’s NBA, no player is unstoppable—if defenses are willing to innovate and adapt.

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