Spurs Playbook: Diving into how San Antonio runs their half-court sets

5.) Cross Screen Lob (ATO)

San Antonio is one of the most inexperienced teams in the league, and making life as manageable as possible will probably be a priority over their first few months together. And that is precisely what the Spurs did on this ATO, producing painless points for Wembanyama when he struggled to find rhythm in the opening frame against the Clippers on Sunday night.

There is nothing too complicated about this sequence. Collins sets a cross screen for Wembanyama to help him carve out beneficial positioning on the low block. He then flashes to the top of the key as Victor seals a much smaller Robert Covington under the rim. After that, the seven-footers are free to engage in some classic "high-low" action that ends in a perfectly placed lob.

With Vassell, Keldon, and Sochan stationed far beyond the arc, Ivica Zubac and Covington are left on an island inside the paint to communicate how to handle Collins and Wembanyama. Paul George and Russell Westbrook must remain attached to their assignments or risk giving up an open three. Kawhi Leonard sags off Sochan in the corner, but the utter size of Wembanyama renders his weakside help useless.