Reinforcements arrive as Spurs confront the one issue wins were hiding

The San Antonio Spurs have been outright dominant since Victor Wembanyama went down with an injury. The team is 9-3 in his absence because the offense has been firing on all cylinders. What was once a tragedy has now become a blessing in disguise. Despite the Spurs' rave reviews without their superstar, they still need his services.

During the 12-game stretch without Wemby, the Spurs are sitting at a porous 117.2 defensive rating and have been entirely powered by an offense that is on fire right now. While we love to see this brand of basketball, it is not entirely sustainable for a postseason run.

Opposing teams have been able to take advantage of the Wembanyama-less Spurs, but they happen to be getting run down themselves. Without the superhuman efforts of the supporting cast during this stretch, the Spurs would be getting thrashed.

Victor Wembanyama is essential to the Spurs' defense

Amidst the run without Vic, the Spurs have given up over 130 points three times and 120 a few more times. The defense has not been pretty.

Whether you like it or not, the Spurs' defense runs through Victor Wembanyama. With the Alien on the court, the opposing team is downright frightened to attack the paint. The Frenchman's presence alone is enough to scare anyone off from going downhill.

With that, the job for the rest of the team becomes a whole lot easier. They can rest assured that the paint is safe, and they can focus their efforts on defending the perimeter. While I am not saying no one else on this team can defend, the surrounding cast looks better when Vic is on the court. Wembanyama is the ultimate security blanket.

The Spurs need Victor Wembanyama back out there

I have to applaud everyone's efforts with their superstar, and in particular, Luke Kornet has done a fantastic job as the starting center. While he's not Vic, he has been excellent as a relief post defender. The remaining players have done well, but it is clear that they are not good enough on their own.

The Spurs will get their biggest test of this season in the upcoming matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Thankfully, the Alien is returning for this game. They'll need his presence to ward off OKC's offensive attack.

This 12-game run has definitely been a blast, but it's time we remember the man who brought this team to life. The time without Victor allowed us to learn more about this squad and prepare everyone for what's to come in the playoffs.