The Knicks may have a plan for Victor Wembanyama—but not for this

Most of the attention entering the NBA Finals has centered on Victor Wembanyama and how the New York Knicks plan to deal with him.

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That conversation makes sense because Wembanyama has spent the postseason disrupting offenses in ways very few players can. The problem for New York is that focusing too heavily on the Spurs superstar might leave another issue sitting in plain sight.

San Antonio has several players capable of creating difficult matchups.

The Spurs are not built around a single offensive threat. De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson all bring different skills to the floor, which forces opponents to make uncomfortable defensive decisions throughout a seven-game series.

That could become particularly important against a Knicks team that has long faced questions about the defensive limitations of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

One Eastern Conference scout admitted there is uncertainty regarding where Towns fits defensively against San Antonio’s lineup.

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«I don’t know where you put Towns,» the scout said.

The challenge extends beyond Towns.

Brunson remains one of the league’s most dangerous offensive players, but several league observers believe San Antonio’s size could create problems for him defensively. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper both offer a level of size and physicality that presents a different challenge than many of the matchups New York encountered during its Eastern Conference playoff run.

A Western Conference assistant coach pointed directly to that concern.

«They’re not easy matchups for [Brunson] to contain,» the coach said.

The good news for New York is that it has defensive versatility on the wing. OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart provide size and flexibility that few teams can match. Anunoby, in particular, could spend significant time defending Wembanyama.

«He’s one of the best guys who could guard him,» the assistant coach said.

Still, even if Anunoby succeeds in that assignment, another question remains.

The Knicks already know Wembanyama will be difficult to stop. What they may not know yet is whether they can prevent the rest of San Antonio’s lineup from turning every defensive possession into a matchup hunt.

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That battle could end up deciding much more than people expect.

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