Victor Wembanyama will likely begin the series not guarding a big man but instead guarding Knicks wing Josh Hart.
The setup will, in some ways, be familiar to Hart, an inconsistent 3-point shooter. He’s looked into the eyes of centers before, only for them to roam into the paint instead of sticking to him. But Wembanyama, if spread all the way out, could clean each window of the Chrysler Building without his heels leaving the sidewalk. This is no regular chap. And experience against other 7-footers doesn’t translate to whatever he may try.
The matchup allowed Wembanayma to sag into his cushiest area of the court: the paint, where he scares away any reasonable actor who dares to approach the basket.
If Wembanyama defends Hart, this will be a major series for Karl-Anthony Towns, who will have either Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell or Julian Champagnie guarding him. All are smaller. It will be a massive series for the crashers on the wings, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and, if he gets time off the bench, Jordan Clarkson, who has morphed into a hyena on the offensive glass.
The Knicks will need to spread out Wembanyama — and not just with Hart. Adding shooting is one way to challenge him. If Hart isn’t hitting his 3s, head coach Mike Brown could splice another weapon into a unit that includes Jalen Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby and Towns.
In Game 1 against Cleveland, when Hart couldn’t hit a jumper and the offense went stale, Landry Shamet was the fifth guy in a closing lineup that spurred one of the biggest comebacks in playoff history.
