The San Antonio Spurs' convincing Game 1 win moved them one step closer to the NBA Finals but saw them employ a surprising strategy. Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was absolutely dominant with 41 points and 24 rebounds, and he took full advantage of OKC's defense.
The Thunder often played Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, or Jalen Williams on Wembanyama in Game 1, and he made them pay. Just not in the way many assumed. Sure, he looked like 2001 Shaquille O'Neal in the post, but he was also dominant on the offensive glass.
Wembanyama snatched nine of the Spurs' 15 offensive rebounds and scored 10 points on putbacks. His aggressiveness on the offensive glass presents a major challenge to the Thunder and could bring about a major change.
Victor Wembanyama may be matched up directly against Chet Holmgren
It's no secret that Wembanyama isn't a fan of Thunder big man Chet Holmgren, but they have spent a little time guarding one another this season. That may change with the Thunder potentially putting Holmgren on Wemby to try and keep him off the glass.
There are those pros and cons to that strategy. The first being preventing Wembanyama from getting second-chance points, the second is that it puts a great defender on the Spurs' best player.
Considering that Holmgren largely guarded Julian Champagnie, him playing closer to the basket may serve as more of a rim deterrent.
On the other hand, having Holmgren guard Wemby may be playing into the Spurs' hands.
Victor Wembanyama would welcome matching up against Holmgren
Wembanyama has shown no problem going right at Holmgren, with him having both the height and strength advantage over his rival.
Holmgren could keep Wembanyama off the glass and perhaps take away some of the high entry passes that he turned into quick points. However, he would be pulled away from the basket when Wembanyama is spotting up or setting screens.
In that situation, he'd have to contend with Wembanyama rolling to the rim and also stopping drives from the Spurs guards.
It would allow the Spurs to attack Holmgren directly. It may seem counterintuitive since he was a Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner for most of the season.
However, De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper clearly aren't afraid of him. Wembanyama's disdain for Holmgren is clearly rubbing off on those three.
The alternative is for OKC to continue to risk playing small against Wembanyama. They have had some success in the past with that strategy.
However, if he continues to bully them on the offensive glass, he may force OKC's hand.
