Victor Wembanyama Comments on Game Pace Amid Spurs' Loss to Lakers
Victor Wembanyama, after a hot start to the season, faced difficulties in the San Antonio Spurs' 118-116 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers. Speaking after the game, Wembanyama said the match "feels fast right now," attributing this to opposing teams adapting their defense specifically against him.
Adapting to New Defensive Strategies
Wembanyama acknowledged the defensive pressure has increased compared to previous experiences. He stated,
"Personally, I haven't seen this kind of defense from teams. So we need to adapt as a collective. In the Phoenix game, it was the case as well. We're learning."
Challenges with Double-Teams
The Spurs star highlighted the Lakers’ frequent use of double-teaming as a major challenge. He observed,
"Mostly, it was the doubling. They probably walked in shootaround through all our situations because it seemed like they were very ready. It felt like they let me catch the ball, but they were ready to double to rotate after that."
Game Performance and Outcome
- Wembanyama scored 19 points on 5-of-14 shooting
- He collected 8 rebounds and committed 5 turnovers
- Played 33 minutes and fouled out with just under two minutes left
The Spurs were trailing 113-112 when he fouled out. They had a late chance to tie the game with one second remaining, but Julian Champagnie missed both free throws after drawing a foul, securing the Lakers' win.
Fouling Out Frequency
This game marked the second time Wembanyama fouled out in the first seven games of the season, exceeding his combined total over the previous two seasons.
“This marked the second time in seven games to start the season that Wembanyama has fouled out, surpassing his total from the previous two seasons combined.”
Author's summary: Victor Wembanyama faces intense defensive adjustments and increased double-teams as he navigates a challenging start to the season with the Spurs.