Wemby Watch: Victors Dunks Hornets Into Oblivion, Spurs Continue Momentum

Story of the Game

The Spurs picked up another +1 by burying the Hornets. The Spurs already had firm control of the game at intermission, but things got out of hand when Victor came out in NBA Jam mode in the third quarter.

It was one Victor highlight after another and the Spurs cruised to their second victory in a row with no real threat from the Hornets.

It was a very nice bonus to see Lamelo Ball back in the starting lineup after a 7 week layoff due to injury. Lamelo always adds flair and intrigue to the game.

However, there was disappointment in watching the #2 pick in the draft, Brandon Miller, go down hard after Keldon Johnson fouled him on a dunk. There was nothing wrong with the foul, Miller just got up so high that when he unexpectedly fell, he had a long way down and the additional force hurt him.

Victor Stats

26 points, 1 assists, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks in 20 minutes

9–14 fgs, 2–3 3-point fgs

Quick Thoughts

In the first half, Victor actually had several lackluster moments on offense. He was passive and weak offensively. He was trying to draw fouls, he settling for outside shots, and he was contorting himself in ways that favored the defense — for some reason he was going more horizontal than vertical.

In the third quarter, he decided to dominate the game and that he did, finishing with an incredible 26 and 11 in 20 minutes.

Wemby has greatest basketball player to ever play the game written all over him. Quite simply, he’s the complete package and more: he can literally do things no one has ever been able to do.

Also, the defensive impact he has on opponents jumps off the screen. He doesn’t always get the stats, but if you watch the games, you see the other team completely change what they’re doing because of him.

Victor is causing opponents to outright abandon even considering shots inside the paint. In tonight’s matchup, some of the Hornets weren’t even looking at the rim on forays into the paint.

And I don’t blame them. When people try Victor, they usually get blocked.

But back to Victor on offense, he needs to go over the top of defenders every time. He doesn’t need to draw fouls or start trying to contort his body to get off shots.

Go vertical, be aggressive, and attack — this is the opposing team’s worst nightmare.

We watch other players get crafty and draw fouls because they have to to keep defenders honest and get their shot off.

There is no one on the planet earth that can stop Victor’s offense so he shouldn’t play down to the opponent’s ability.

Also, Victor got stripped several times because he brought the ball down low; he needs to drill keeping the ball up high over and over.

As I watched Bill Land and Sean Elliott set up the contest in the ten minutes before tipoff, I remarked to myself how nice it was to have them calling the game again.

When you listen to enough play-by-play and color tandems, you start to realize most of them don’t engage you. I’m not necessarily saying they’re bad, but they don’t add to the game as you watch it.

However, Bill and Sean do; they genuinely enhance the viewing experience.

And Sean Elliott added some extra spice in the second half as he started in on Victor’s playing time or lack thereof.

One thing Sean said was that when you watch Victor tonight, you know he could definitely play tomorrow night against the Bulls.

Also, Sean put the thought of Victor playing 40 minutes into the universe. He recited Victor’s stats and then said, can you imagine if Victor played 40 minutes?

When Pop re-inserted Victor back into the game in the third quarter, Sean said he was glad Pop put him back in and added that it would be good for Victor to play 30+ minutes to feel what it was like to play while he was tired.

Sean also added that he didn’t know if he’d actually seen Victor tired.

I’m paraphrasing here, but Sean unmistakably made his position on Victor’s playing time clear.

Keep in mind this was a runaway blowout against Charlotte so Sean was going out of his way to belabor his point. This was about as blatant of a disagreement as you’ll get from any home team color commentator, but especially when it comes to the Spurs.

And this is, in part, why Sean is my easy, easy choice for the Spurs head coaching position. I’ve campaigned for him repeatedly and will continue to do so because he is absolutely the right man for the job.

The Holt Cat family only has to look as far as the broadcast booth when they finally decide they’ve had enough of Pop’s antics.

For the second game in a row, my thoughts drifted to the opposing team’s point guard.

I like LaMelo. He’s interesting. He’s entertaining. And he’s obviously talented.

But is he capable of playing winning basketball?

I know, I know, he’s on the Hornets so it’s difficult to win. But, also, he’s the point guard and the Hornets aren’t a team to be taken seriously. So then the question becomes, if he goes to a good team, does he start playing real basketball?

My verdict is no.

I just don’t see LaMelo playing real basketball. Like tough playoff style basketball night after night.

I think he played well tonight, especially coming after almost two months of not playing, but it’s hard for me to imagine him adding the consistency and solid play to his game.

He’s a walking highlight reel but will he ever embody some of the characteristics that make the Mike Conley’s of the game so good?

This Spurs team likes winning and there is some real happiness when they’re rolling.

I especially like what I see developing between Victor and Devin Vassell.

Also, Jeremy made some stellar plays tonight. He did get the ball taken from him outright when he attempted to bring the ball up but overall good game for Jeremy.

Sure this just another win against a lowly team, but the Spurs did what they were supposed to do. And it does show that the Spurs are not even close to the same class as the other bottom dwellers, even if their record indicates it.

I still maintain that the Spurs will make the playoffs if their coach will let them.

This team has real talent, they’re coming together, and they badly want to win.

Just look at them in any games they win, the team is amped.

I am convinced this team could be .500 right now if only their coach wasn’t purposefully tanking.

Will Pop abandon his wayward path?

I highly doubt it, but the Spurs are primed to bust lose if he gives them a chance.

Did Blake Wesley have his fingernails painted black?

I thought I saw this but I also could have made it up.

Pre-Game Setup

The Charlotte-Spurs matchup is game #37 for the Spurs.

Betting: Spurs -2.5, Over/Under 239.5

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

Betting Record going into the game 23–22–1.

The Hornets travel to San Antonio for this contest.