The silliest mistake the Mavericks made against Victor Wembanyama on 40-point night

Billy Heyen

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The silliest mistake the Mavericks made against Victor Wembanyama on 40-point night image

There wasn't much the Dallas Mavericks could've done to stop Victor Wembanyama in the season opener against the San Antonio Spurs.

Wemby was on an otherworldly level en route to 40 points and 15 rebounds in a blowout win for the Spurs.

But there was one thing the Mavs could've done better.

On one of Wembanyama's biggest highlight plays, Dallas defender P.J. Washington simply didn't do what he should've done.

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Wemby caught the ball in the right post extended, faced up and went with a pump fake.

Washington bit on the fake, leaving his feet.

Wembanyama gladly took advantage, surging baseline past Washington and getting an easy dunk.

And the question has to be asked: What did Washington think he was going to do?

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For that matter, it should be much preferred to make Wembanyama shoot the jumper than to go the basket, whether or not it can get blocked.

It'll be something that defenses will learn as the season goes along. Wemby is much more intent on going to the rim this season than he has been in the past, when he was very 3-point focused.

Now, Wembanyama wants to go by the defender to the hoop. The Mavs, and everyone else, can at least try to make it not this easy on him.

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Staff Writer