The seeding for the up-and-coming basketball season becomes even more interesting for the San Antonio Spurs with their frontcourt. That biting issue of whether Collins or Mamu is the second big man behind Victor Wembanyama might cause some internal conflict in this team.
Zach Collins: The backup that has long been in place
Zach Collins played a boom role coming from the bench in the last season when the Spurs shifted from the twin-tower playing style. Especially when Collins was transferred to the bench, Wembanyama started scoring a team-high average of 22.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. Collins has been a dependable big man coming off the bench as a defensive big man who, at least, can shoot threes. It also allows him to have experience in multiple roles, such as being ready to become a foundational big man-stopper when Wembanyama is on the bench.
Sandro Mamukelashvili: The Challenger
Arguably, of the two candidates mentioned above, Sandro Mamukelashvili may be less experienced, but he has demonstrated glimpses of ability that may overtake Collins’ position. Last season, in the limited minutes, Mamu was a good scorer and highlighted the potential to create a play for the other players as well. Most notably, he played alongside Wembanyama, with the pair achieving a +11.4 points per 100 possessions when they were on the floor together for 126 minutes and a -12.4 points per 100 possessions when Wembanyama and Collins played together.
Mamu can be a playmaker and a high-percentage shooter, which makes him a solid point guard. If he can improve his three-point shooting, he should be more appealing in particular games. His skills in supporting Wembanyama could earn him more play time, and he might even compete for the backup center position with Collins.
Potential Depth Chart Conflict
The season could also pose a problem with the San Antonio Spurs’ depth chart as they implement their plans. Collins is slightly more effective at the moment, mostly because of his defense and seniority to Mamu, who is very compatible with Wembanyama and has even more scoring potential. If Mamukelashvili continues to improve, especially in his shooting and overall impact on the game, the Spurs may have to consider adjusting their rotation.
The decision will likely depend on how each player fits with the team’s overall strategy and Wembanyama’s development. Coach Gregg Popovich may experiment with different lineups early in the season to determine which combination yields the best results, possibly leading to a more significant role for Mamu if he can consistently outperform Collins.
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