Victor Wembanyama units a Spurs playoff report with 35 factors in his postseason debut.
Victor Wembanayama’s record-setting playoff debut for the San Antonio Spurs is in the books, and the Spurs dealt with enterprise in opposition to the Portland Trail Blazers in their first playoff look since 2019.
Now, how will each groups settle into the sequence after the Spurs took Game 1 111-98 on Sunday? What’s subsequent for Wembanyama? Can the Trail Blazers get offensive assist for Deni Avdija? Those solutions will grow to be obvious over the subsequent week.
Here are three things to watch between the Trail Blazers and Spurs in Game 2 Tuesday (8 ET, NBC/Peacock):
1. What does Wembanyama do for a playoff encore?
Wembanyama set a franchise report for many factors in a playoff debut, scoring 35 and passing Tim Duncan (32).
So, what does the third-year star – who’s a finalist for Kia MVP and received his first Defensive Player of the Year award on Monday – do in Game 2?
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson mentioned Wembanyama has lofty objectives and expectations for himself. Winning is on the high of that record, particularly in April, May and June.
“Whatever it takes” is the reply.
Wembanyama had 5 rebounds in Game 1 – that’s greater than six beneath his season common of 11.5. Look for Wembanyama to be aggressive on the glass and listen to how he adapts to Portland’s physicality.
He might be extra well-rounded together with his passing after only one help and extra cautious with ball safety after 4 turnovers in the sequence opener.
2. Can the Trail Blazers generate extra offense?
Portland completed the common season with the NBA’s Twenty first-ranked offense, scoring 113.1 factors per 100 possessions. That poses a troublesome problem for the Trail Blazers in opposition to the Spurs’ third-ranked protection.
There have been some positives for the Blazers: they have been down simply two factors with underneath eight minutes left in the third quarter; Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe had tough capturing efforts; and Deni Avdija scored a team-high 30 factors.
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Deni Avdija turns in a 30-point efficiency whereas making his playoff debut.
Holiday was 4-for-15 from the sector and 1-for-7 on 3-pointers, and Sharpe averaged a career-best 20.8 factors however had simply 10 factors on 4-for-13 capturing, together with 0-for-4 on 3s. San Antonio’s perimeter protection had a task in that, however improved capturing from Holiday and Sharpe will influence the result.
The Blazers want to rating greater than 98 factors to win video games in this sequence. It’s not simple in opposition to the Spurs, but when the Blazers can generate extra offense, that may assist decide how this sequence appears transferring ahead.
3. How does Spurs coach Mitch Johnson deal with the playoffs?
In his first full season as coach after taking up for Gregg Popovich on an interim foundation final season, Johnson was incredible this season, main the Spurs to (*3*) and the No. 2 seed in the West. He was named on Sunday one in every of three finalists for Coach of the Year.
He didn’t face many choices that required scrutiny in Game 1 – and that speaks to the gameplan Johnson and his teaching workers put collectively. The Spurs have been in management, and when Portland made it an in depth sport in the third quarter, the Spurs prolonged the league and ensured there wouldn’t be an in depth end.
But there’ll come a time when Johnson’s decision-making and technique will probably be underneath the microscope.
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Jeff Zillgitt has coated the NBA since 2008. You can e mail him at jzillgitt@nba.com, discover his archive here and follow him on X.
