Victor Wembanyama blocking New York Knicks’ path in NBA Cup final
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San Antonio Spurs star man Victor Wembanyama will be a major threat to the New York Knicks' bid to end their 52-year trophy drought during the NBA Cup final in Las Vegas on Dec 16.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LAS VEGAS – The New York Knicks will attempt to find a way past the imposing 2.24m frame of San Antonio Spurs prodigy Victor Wembanyama on Dec 16 (Dec 17, Singapore time) as they bid to end their 52-year trophy drought in the NBA Cup final in Las Vegas.
The Knicks head into the final at the T-Mobile Arena brimming with confidence after polishing off the Orlando Magic with ease in the semi-finals on Dec 13.
That win has left the New York franchise within touching distance of their first piece of silverware since the team’s 1973 National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Blocking their path, though, is the fit-again Wembanyama, the French giant who was instrumental in helping San Antonio upset the in-form Oklahoma City Thunder in their semi-final on Dec 13.
The 21-year-old played limited minutes in the win over Oklahoma City
Knicks talisman Jalen Brunson said New York would attempt to drag Wembanyama out of position defensively.
“You’ve got to find ways to pull him away from the basket, and you’ve got to obviously be smart,” Brunson said of Wembanyama. “You can’t just go in there and think no one is going to come and affect the shot.
“He’s great at what he does, and we’ve just got to be smart as a team, playing off two feet and reading where he is and just trying to get the best shot as possible.”
Karl-Anthony Towns echoed Brunson’s assessment of Wembanyama.
“He’s (2.24m), and he’s very talented,” Towns said. “For us, we’re going to have to do a good job of executing our defensive game plan and offensively, as well.”
Knicks coach Mike Brown said neutralising Wembanyama would require a team effort.
“You’re not going to be able to guard a guy like that one-on-one,” he said.
“You try to put length, size, physicality at the point of attack when it comes to him, but it’s got to be five guys guarding the basketball at all times.
“We have some pretty good defenders with length, and hopefully they can try to make it as difficult as possible with him, knowing that they have help behind them.”
Wembanyama’s introduction off the bench on Dec 13 sent a surge of excitement rippling through the T-Mobile Arena crowd, who later showered him with chants of “M-V-P”.
The Frenchman, meanwhile, said San Antonio’s win over Oklahoma City augured well for the chances of the Spurs emerging as genuine rivals to the Thunder in the Western Conference.
“I think we’re not quite there yet, but it’s a good sign that people see that it’s possible,” he said. “I don’t think anybody right now can claim to have a rivalry with them in the league. They’re in their own tier.
“But in the future, if we can provide a stage this good and we reach that level, of course it would be great to have a rivalry, because if you’re at the top and you have a rivalry, it means you’re in the best position to win titles.”
He also said that while a San Antonio victory on Dec 16 would “not be super significant”, it would still carry some significance.
“It’s a high-stakes game that both teams are going to be very invested in winning,” Wembanyama added. “It just shows that we are preparing and we will pass the next step for more significant games in the play-offs.”
Meanwhile in NBA action on Dec 15, Cade Cunningham had 32 points and 10 assists as the Detroit Pistons held off the Boston Celtics 112-105 to extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 34 points for the Celtics.
Elsewhere, the Denver Nuggets battled past the Houston Rockets 128-125 in overtime to extend their winning streak to five games in a heavyweight duel between two teams in the top five places of the Western Conference standings. AFP
