Inside the Spurs’ Defense — How Sean Sweeney Built a System Around Wemby
The San Antonio Spurs are 4–0 — but it’s how they’re winning that’s turning heads.
Through three games, they’ve built one of the league’s top defenses — ranking 2nd in defensive rating (104.9) and holding opponents under 107 points in two of their first three matchups.
But this isn’t just about Victor Wembanyama’s rim protection.
It’s about a system — a design.
With new defensive coach Sean Sweeney installing his fingerprints on the scheme, the Spurs have built a defense that can pressure the ball full court, chase through handoffs, and funnel everything into the league’s most unique rim protector.
In this video, we break down how San Antonio guards actions differently than most NBA teams — from their anticipation spots and zoom handoff counters, to their wall-up technique and connected rotations that let Wemby change the geometry of the floor.
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48 Comments
Finally someone gets it… I have seen other youtubers say that, other than Wemby, the Spurs have some bad defenders and it is all Wemby. The defense is DESIGNED to funnel people to Wemby. Other than maybe Keldon who definately is not a good defender, the rest of the Spurs are quite good defenders in their own right, it is just the system the Spurs are running.
Top notch content Coach!
You don't need to switch anymore, we have Wembanyama! 💀
Wemby is now a serious problem for the league, even surpassing Dwight Howard and Shaq on both ends of the floor, which I never thought was possible in one unicorn package 🦄
If the Spurs keep that same strategy against great teams especially the recent nba champions, This team is obviously a Contender to make a huge playoff push. This team is a serious franchise heading back into the years of Tim Duncan's championship and the Wemby expiriment is a total meltdown for opposing teams. Even better than the tim duncan led spurs.
When you watch them you see everyone making mistakes and often losing but Wemby can guard everywhere near the paint with a single step so he is constantly erasing all of his teams mistakes. It's barely that they built anything (I feel basically any coach can build a defense around Wemby) and more that Wemby erases almost all mistakes and stops people before they even try. It's borderline unfair and his team doesn't have to worry about as much around the paint. Wemby existing deters people from taking the most valuable shot in the game (the shot at the rim is still higher expected value than 3s)
Great analysis subbed
Your good im glad i found your channel just how
How to build a world-class NBA defense:
1. Draft Victor Wembenyama
2. That’s it.
Yeah but Sohan and his tunnel vision will destroy it when he come back.
Damn your breakdown is more in depth than mine
https://youtu.be/-W6hO9HabFQ?si=iHQGzIpxKLKRaJFW
I love their defensive schemes. They literally all rotate around Wemby letting guys go to the rim with Wemby waiting. Its an incredible system and I am not shocked the Mavs D looks so much worse without Sweeney. I just hope the Spurs can keep using this system after he gets a head coaching role soon
Its amazing how the Spurs revolutionized Drop coverage by just having one giant dude on the court that you funnel all the drives into so you're going over everything with a ton of pressure
alien and the Yautjas
Best defense? No! Wembanyama is best cheat code or 2k26 trainer in NBA
Appreciate the breakdown bro
LOL the defense is only good because Wemby keeps cleaning up behind guys like Barnes and KJ…
I take issue with calling Wemby a unicorn lol.
Makes it like he is the Porzingis, Giannis, KAT range.
He is in a whole other category. He is one of one it appears. I hereby ban you from using unicorn 😊
They should sign Ben Simmons on vet minimum
0:41 Victor is listed at 7'5", not 7'4". He grew since last year.
how do we stop it coach?
I hate that in the last 3 games, the none basketball minds and even sports commentators start saying how the Spurs are struggling when Wemby goes out. Byombo is terrible & Kornet, Sochan & even Olynek aren’t pla.
Spurs defense is gonna bring back the mid-range
We getting ready to be 5-0 ❤❤❤😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉 👸🏽⏰👀💍🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏃🏿🏃🏿🏃🏿🏃🏿🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾💪🏾💪🏾🔥🔥🔥
Team work We getting ready to be 5-0 ❤❤❤😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉 👸🏽⏰👀💍🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏃🏿🏃🏿🏃🏿🏃🏿🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾🏃🏾💪🏾💪🏾🔥🔥🔥
Now we just need our old offensive system of 2014
They've been watching my 2k tapes
Wemby presence in the paint is like gobert when we was at utah
1:07 Feels like eren spotting the collosal titan for the first time. This play could go so hard in the next basketball anime
Awesome Job🎉
As a long-time Spurs fan for 34 years now, I am glad, San Antonio addressed the defense weakness from last year, this recent off-season. If…..the Spurs can keep up the terrific defense during the 2025-2026 NBA Season,…
they just might return to the playoffs as the #6 or #7 Seed. #GSG
Top Tier breakdown @coach mike, I'm sure the reason Coach Sweeney came over to the Spurs was he said the possibilities and the youth direction of the Spurs. I'm curious if they'll send Carter Bryant down for Austin most of the season or if they push him to being top 5 off the bench. Coach Mitch put the right coaches around him and it's showing.
Great analysis! The only issue is that the background music and noise are a bit too strong. Maybe lower them slightly or increase your voice volume.
All the Spurs need to do is cut/release a player and sign Bol Bol!
Defense wins championships
Dylan Harper is surprisingly good on defense which makes the future even more exciting
What really separates the spurs from other teams defensively is that they don’t take a big hit to their poa defense when the starters get rest.
This team will be even better defensively once Sochan and Fox comes back
Yall either gotta be dumb or new to basketball to be amazed funneling guys down to the center. It's literally not a groundbreaking new idea. Other teams with a competent big have done this scheme before.
5-0!
How does sochan fit into this system?
Obviously, the height helps, but it's crazy how fast Wemby does a full 180 degree rotation from the ball handler to the roller.
"Champagne"…?
Bigs who can shoot are the kryptonite to the defense. If you can force wemby to gaurd the perimter you limit his shot blocking and rebounding. Happened against the heat with Bam Adebayo but then they adjusted and settled back in by holding them to 14 pts in a quater lol
Thing with Wemby is that his prime wont last long, his body will give up by 30, you can tell by how he lifts his feet when he runs, looks stiff as hell.
Sydney sweeney really does things to a person.
Just wait till Jeremy and Kornet come back, this defense will be scary!!!
It's the jeans .