Wemby Watch: Sean Elliott Implores Spurs to Involve Victor Wembanyama, Nuggets Win
Story of the Game
The first quarter of this game looked like a YMCA game where one team has zero chance and the other team is scoring at will. The lopsidedness led to the Spurs being down 19 just 12 minutes in.
And even though the Spurs played poorly, they made enough plays and the Nuggets played passively enough for the Spurs to get to within 4 late in the third.
But the Nuggets always answered each Spurs run and eventually ran away with the win.
Not showing up to play in a big game at the Moody Center in Austin is one thing, but for the season to be nearly over and the Spurs to still not involve Victor in the offense is embarrassing.
I thought this was a “development” season — shouldn’t the Spurs have figured out how to pass the ball to their generational superstar by now?
Not only have the Spurs (Pop) not figured out how to get Victor in a position to get quality shots, but we saw a wide, wide open Victor get ignored multiple times on lobs.
Jeremy Sochan was the guilty party on one missed alley oop, and he blatantly didn’t pass to him.
The Spurs are supposed to be a character and culture team. I’m watching their generational superstar look completely miserable and lose his confidence.
Losing on purpose might gain a top draft pick, but they’re losing more than games in the meantime.
Edit: I just read my Spurs-Magic Wemby Watch (game #52) and look what I wrote:
Besides what we’ve seen all season long, I have nothing to back this up but I think Pop’s loser mentality and coaching style is really starting to damage Victor’s confidence.
Victor’s not playing the same. He’s playing weaker and without animosity.
And there’s no sign of “development” anywhere in sight. If anything, this Spurs team is regressing.
Losing on purpose might get a higher draft pick, but it comes with severe consequences attached, including demoralizing young players.
Victor Stats
13 points, 6 assists, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks in 31 minutes
5–12 fgs, 2–7 3 fgs
Quick Thoughts
At first I thought TJ Ford’s addition to the Spurs broadcasting team was a bad call, but as the game wore on I started to appreciate his objective comments on Spurs mistakes.
Sean Elliott attempts to veil his criticism most of the time, but Ford contributed commonsense, flat commentary that was needed.
Part of the problem is not only do the Spurs not look for Victor or center their offense around him, but now it’s affecting Victor’s mentality; he’s looking to pass — even when he’s being guarded one-on-one.
So even Victor’s not looking for Victor now.
Victor Wembanyama occasionally has bad help defense plays where he inexplicably leaves his man wide open. But something else this game reminded me of was that his teammates rarely help him — no one rotates to cover Victor’s man.
Also, Victor gives Nikola Jokic more problems than most players. The length definitely is the biggest factor, but I think there’s something else about Victor that enables him to get to some of Jokic’s shots.
It’s like Jokic’s slow pace somehow doesn’t befuddle Victor or something.
Listening to Sean Elliott talk over and over about the most basic of things the Spurs should be doing (the biggest being getting Victor the ball) is absolutely embarrassing. Not only at this point in the season, but just in general. These guys are professional basketball players and they’re playing so bad and so selfishly that their play has to be talked around.
Gregg Popovich should be fired for tanking Victor’s rookie season.
Pre-game Setup
The Denver-San Antonio matchup is game #67 for the Spurs.
Betting: Spurs +10.5, Over/Under 225
(Guess-Prediction: I’ll take the Spurs and the over.)
Betting Record going into the game 45–52–1.
The Nuggets traveled to Austin (San Antonio) for this contest.
