The Spurs need the best out of Victor Wembanyama every night to win this battle of titans, but it’s just not happening. He has been great at times, but has struggled to impose himself at others.
Credit to Isaiah Hartenstein, who has played the best defense on Wembanyama we’ve seen in Game 5. He’s not letting Wemby get to spots comfortably or drive toward the rim. He’s not even letting Wemby get off those long-step floaters at an angle that’s comfortable.
Wembanyama is struggling to even tip rebounds to his teammates. All of it has been difficult for Wemby and the Spurs to pull off consistently.
Meanwhile, the Thunder are winning the majority of the 50-50 plays and have a clearer sense of how they want to execute offensively. The Spurs keep taking the bait on the gaps the Thunder defense does yield, then watches the ball get deflected or even intercepted.
San Antonio’s half-court offense continues to operate in a tangle of Thunder defenders that has taken the Spurs out of their comfort zone.
Wembanyama is the person who can break through this, but it didn’t happen in Game 5. They now need it from him two games in a row if the Spurs want to turn this series around — but it hasn’t happened so far against the best defense in the game.