San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) goes up for a dunk as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
There was no guarantee that he was going to play. A minor ankle injury kept Victor Wembanyama sidelined when the San Antonio Spurs played in Phoenix on Monday night and head coach Gregg Popovich said there was a 50-50 chance he’d be available when the team faced the Utah Jazz Wednesday.
Well, Wembanyama played and the Utah Jazz were subjected to what happens when there is a 7-foot-5 phenom on the court. His stat line tells part of the story — 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists, five blocks — but watching him tells an even more impressive story.
I went back and rewatched all of Wembanyama’s minutes and the Jazz missed 29 shots while he was on the court. Of those 29 missed shots, Wembanyama directly impacted 14 of them. Defensively accounting for nearly 50% of the Jazz’s missed shots is apretty intense and really, really impressive.
Watching all Victor involved Jazz shot attempts. This one stands out. Jazz on the break, plenty time on the clock. Obviously want shots with him not in the play. Lauri slows when Victor is on his back but when he realizes Victor isn't in the play he rushes the shot. pic.twitter.com/VmOOQUudjf
Teams that are playing the Spurs will do just about anything to get shots when Wembanyama is on the weakside of the court but because of his length and speed, even then he can still close out and make people shoot over the top of his outstretched arms.
Wembanyama is having this kind of an effect on the game in his rookie season as he’s still learning how to be most effective. He is only going to get better.
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) has his pass knocked down by San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The Spurs won 118-111.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) goes up for a dunk as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) has the ball taken by San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) as they battle for the ball as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The Spurs won 118-111.
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) strips the ball from San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The Spurs won 118-111.
San Antonio Spurs guard Tre Jones (33) and Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) go after the ball as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The Spurs won 118-111.
The Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) and San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) battle for the rebound as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy yells out instructions as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy has an animated conversation with Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) flips up a shot with Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) flying by as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The Spurs won 118-111.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) drives around San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The Spurs won 118-111.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) defends Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The Spurs won 118-111.
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) walks back upcourt with his head in his jersey as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The Spurs won 118-111.
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) catches a pass and heads upcourt as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The Spurs won 118-111.
Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) dunks the ball as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The Spurs won 118-111.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) and San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) jump for the ball as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The Spurs won 118-111.
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) crashes into the sideline fans as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The Spurs won 118-111.
Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) is blocked and fouled by San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
Utah Jazz forward Luka Samanic (19) fouls San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14) as he tries to dunk the ball as the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
3-point defense
The Utah Jazz have the worst opponent 3-point field goal percentage in the league. On average Jazz opponents are averaging 39.7% from beyond the arc, and I hate to state the obvious, but average means that there have been quite a few nights when opponents are shooting well over 40%, including Wednesday night.
The Spurs shot 48.5% from 3 against the Jazz.
“We’ve got to do a better job contesting shots,” Lauri Markkanen said. “We’ve got to find the shooters, we’ve got to be able to rotate ... and even if you don’t think you can block the shot or contest the shot, still that little bit of hand going up is going to make a difference. I think we’ve got to have more urgency to just give a little bit extra effort.”
There’s part of some of the Jazz’s defensive schemes that allow for certain players taking 3-pointers or living with 3s so long as they are taking away other shots on the court. But the Jazz are losing a lot of games and it’s not just that they are allowing some 3s — they’re allowing a lot.
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