Team France's biggest problem makes one thing clear for Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs can learn a lot from the challenges Team France has faced when Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert are on the court together. While they form a defensive powerhouse, their offensive spacing leaves much to be desired. As Spurs fans and the coaching staff look forward to the upcoming NBA season, these lessons are crucial for getting the most out of Wembanyama and the team's offense.

The main issue Team France has run into is the cramped offensive spacing when both Wemby and Gobert—who isn't known for his shooting—play at the same time. Gobert is an incredible defender and rebounder, but his lack of an outside shot clogs the paint and limits driving lanes for Wembanyama and others. This forces the offense to operate in a tighter, more congested space, making it less effective overall.

There is good and bad with the two-big experiment

Coach Vincent Collet of Team France has been trying out different lineups with both Wembanyama and Gobert, giving us a real-time look at how this setup works. The defensive benefits are clear: Gobert's shot-blocking and rebounding pair perfectly with Wembanyama's versatility, creating a strong defensive front. However, the offensive struggles are reminiscent of the ones the Spurs experienced at the beginning of Wemby's rookie season when Zach Collins started.

The Spurs can use these insights to shape their own strategies. While San Antonio doesn’t have a player exactly like Gobert, they could consider pairing Wembanyama with a defensive-minded, non-shooting center. The trick will be to balance the defensive advantages with the need for better spacing on offense and determine whether the tradeoff is worth it.

Even though international courts are a bit smaller than NBA courts, the athleticism of NBA players negates some of those size advantages, and Wembanyama needs room to operate effectively. As the Spurs move forward, understanding and addressing these spacing issues will be key to making the most of Wembanyama’s incredible talent and ensuring the team’s success.