Wemby Watch: Victor Hits Rookie Wall, Turns to Softer, Finesse Play (Again) vs. Cavs

Story of the Game

This was a very boring, bland loss to a very good Cleveland Cavaliers team. Even though the score was 30–25 after one, it’s only because the Spurs were hitting threes. Once the luck dried out, the game was over.

While the Spurs never reached full garbage time — always keeping their deficit within a non-laughable amount, the Cavs were never threatened.

For the fourth game in a row, Victor played a relatively bad game. Once again, his stats looked decent, but he failed the eye test.

In the first quarter, his offensive play was extremely weak and soft but he looked better thereafter.

Sean Elliott made mention of the rookie wall early on and that looks like as good as explanation as any for Victor’s slump. He’s clearly been a shadow of himself for the last four games.

However, being tired and worn down is one thing. Losing toughness and aggression is another.

Prior to his current lull, Victor played with the killer mentality that we would see from Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

Now, he looks like he’s opting into more of a facilitator, just another guy role.

My thought for two games in a row now: he looks devenomized.

Victor Stats

19 points, 3 assists, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks in 28 minutes

5–16 fgs, 2–4 3 fgs

Quick Thoughts

Last game, for the Pelicans Wemby Watch, I wrote:

Victor made another one-handed sling pass and it was so bad. So, so bad. It was an instant turnover the second he even thought about throwing it and it was one of the most stupid plays from Victor I can remember. As I’ve written multiple times previously, I can’t stand his one-handed passes — they’re completely out of control and have such a low percentage of leading to anything positive.

I know he had another horrible one-handed sling pass. It may have been two.

Regardless, will someone on the Spurs coaching staff tell him to pass the ball with two hands?

It’s so basic. It’s so fundamental and yet he keeps making the same obvious turnover.

Once again, I didn’t think Pop was tanking. It looked like the Spurs were simply listless and never had even a remote chance of winning the game.

Also, Zach Collins is playing horribly. I wrote this last game:

That said, Zach Collins needs to put in more effort to defend and rebound and he desperately needs to hit the weight room.

You can’t just check-in, get scored on at will, not get contested rebounds, miss threes, and then check out.

I used to think Zach Collins was a really good role player. The more I watch him, the more I can’t stand him.

He can’t guard a soul. Jared Allen was the center that was able to score and rebound on him at will tonight.

It will be Bam Adebayo after the break in the Spurs schedule.

Congratulations on getting the 2 year, $35 million contract. It will be your last significant one.

What I don’t get is why Dominick Barlow doesn’t get to play now. Barlow is clearly better.

Georges Niang is fat and out of shape.

I was surprised the Cavs trotted him out last time the Spurs played them and I was surprised again tonight.

Pre-game Setup

The Cleveland-Spurs matchup is game #50 for the Spurs.

Betting: Cavaliers -9.5, Over/Under 229

(Guess-Prediction: I’ll take the Spurs and the over.)

Betting Record going into the game 34–35–1.

The Cavaliers are in San Antonio for this contest.