Wembanyama and Sengun look to shape NBA playoffs
Two Euros carry the hopes of Texas in the NBA Playoffs. Alperen Sengun is looking to prove the Houston Rockets are better than their own fans have thought for much of the season. Meanwhile Victor Wembanyama is making his playoff debut and wants to show the San Antonio Spurs are ready now.
Wow, the rest really is stacked. I mean, I know everyone already knew this and that this has been clear for a few years but it still bears repeating. In terms of Euro interest in the NBA Playoffs, it’s heavily skewed towards the more challenging timezones for those on this side of the Atlantic to follow.
Having already broken down the below-superstar level ballers and Nikola Jokic, our last look ahead to the NBA post-season is all about the two Euros in Texas. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have a rocket strapped to their back. Meanwhile the actual Rockets, in Houston, will be hoping Alperen Sengun can raise them a level in the postseason.
Wembanyama is a phenom but now he’s a problem
Victor Wembanyama arrived in the NBA with all kinds of fanfare. There has never been a Euro whose arrival in the association was as anticipated. Granted Luka Doncic not getting that treatment was odd to everyone on this side of the Atlantic.
Still, Wemby has delivered for the San Antonio Spurs. He’s already at the elite tier of bigs in the NBA and contributes substantially at both ends of the floor. The one area I thought might hurt him, fouling, never materialised. He fouls slightly below league average for a high usage 5.
With his playmaking improving all the time, albeit with still room for improvement, Wemby has evolved. He has gone from being an oddity that gets good numbers to a problem that everyone is struggling to solve. In the NBA Playoffs, that’s a huge asset to have.
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Sengun seeks to cement his status
Alperen Sengun is, by far, the most accomplished player from Türkiye on a years played basis. At 23, he is already in the conversation as a superstar and really ought to be considered one beyond doubt by now.
The beauty of Sengun’s game is the blend. He can run the offensive game from multiple spots, both in the post and from the outside. He frankly looks more comfortable in the latter. With Kevin Durant and a deep roster beside him, you’d think there’d be more hype for this postseason tilt.
Instead, the Houston Rockets enter the NBA Playoffs after what was considered an underwhelming regular season. Narrowly missing out on home court has cost them dearly in terms of their route. To make it out of the West, their route begins with the LA Lakers, will likely be followed by OKC Thunder, and likely conclude with either the Nuggets or Spurs. That’s a brutal route.
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Two paths but the same question
Can either Alperen Sengun or Victor Wembanyama control a NBA Playoff series? For Wemby, getting the Portland Trailblazers first should be a solid starting point, The match-ups will suit him. Anything after the first round will be considered a successful season for the Spurs, even though this roster probably believes it can run the table.
With Sengun, the good news is that Luka Doncic won’t be available for at least some and probably all of the series with the Lakers. Still, the Houston Rockets need to impress and be business-like in this series. That’s no easy ask considering LeBron James is still against them.
The playoffs aren’t a referendum until they happen. Once we see how these guys come out the other side, we’ll know a lot more. In each case, this year’s NBA Playoffs present a fine opportunity to set the table for the years to follow.
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