Game Thread Spurs (23-8) vs Cavs (17-16) (Mon 12/29/25) [7:00 PM CDT]

[poopbox]

Harper is like 1 for 11 over the last 6 and Castle is shooting like 25% over the last 6.

ROUGH STRETCH from 3

Will give Harper and Castle some slack cause shooting 3's isn't their job getting into the paint to score and kicking out for 3 is and they have been doing that just fine.

Barnes and Champ do almost nothing but shoot 3's and they are a combined 6 for damn near 30 over the last 3. Can't win when your one dimensional shooters can't make 3's it mostly doesn't matter what everyone else does if that's the case.

 

[Kick-Stand]

No, I said that because (to me at least) Wemby seems to be "falling different" since the OKC games, as in "falling due to pain" instead of "tripping while getting stripped" that he usually does. I don't know if there's any public tracking data on players' falls but it just seemed notorious to me, he was grabbing at his shins/legs which he doesn't normally do.

As far as Wemby dribbling into a turnover, yeah, shouldn't happen so much with the number of guards on the team. But I also don't really like to seem him operating from the high post - he seems to be stripped much more than he can make the 1 power dribble moves, and our guards can't seem to help telegraphing their every entry pass to him. At this point, I'd like to see him as a decoy, fake the pass and have the guard drive past him instead

Neither of these last two games reminded me of OKC going after his shins tbh. Just felt like Wemby playing low offensive IQ ball. I like Wemby catching in the high post because it gives him a lot of avenues to create points whether it's an uncontestable midrange jumper he can hit at a good percentage or opening the lane for cutters or opening up wide open threes if the double comes or driving to the rim if his man is off balance when Wemby catches. I also loved what they did in the Houston game by having Wemby setup on the low block to force Houston to counter with a big on him and then flash to the high post for the catch where now he had a significant advantage on Stephen Adams or Sengun scrambling to catch up.

 

[LeBowen]

These past few games are the reason why I said I wouldn't mind if Wemby keeps chucking 9 threes per game if it meant he'd stop dribbling the ball around.
Having a center average 35% on 9 attempts would open the floor so much more than whatever we're doing right now.

3pts, high post jumpshots, lobs, transition and offensive reboudns is all we need from him and he could easily average 28ppg like that.

 

[spursparker9]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2005860995953029131

Probably incoming some injury management procedures from these falls

 

[Sugus]

Neither of these last two games reminded me of OKC going after his shins tbh. Just felt like Wemby playing low offensive IQ ball. I like Wemby catching in the high post because it gives him a lot of avenues to create points whether it's an uncontestable midrange jumper he can hit at a good percentage or opening the lane for cutters or opening up wide open threes if the double comes or driving to the rim if his man is off balance when Wemby catches. I also loved what they did in the Houston game by having Wemby setup on the low block to force Houston to counter with a big on him and then flash to the high post for the catch where now he had a significant advantage on Stephen Adams or Sengun scrambling to catch up.

Hmm, maybe it's just my impression then, I'll keep an eye out for his falls in the Knicks game.

Agree with the rest, with the caveat that Wemby seems to be just as inclined to start one of his Street Fighter Combo Moves when he catches the ball on the high post, as he is to make one of the brilliant offensive plays you described so I'm wary of just assuming that a high post possession will == smart offense from him.

Ultimately it's a coaching issue - he clearly has the green light to start possessions whenever, wherever, and it'll continue until the playoffs come and he faces an actual embarrassment over it. Few things better for personal growth than having worldwide media clown on your moves in the big stage...

 

[Sugus]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2005860995953029131

Oh shit, I missed this post - there's actual stats on this?! Thanks!

This is what I was talking about @Kick-Stand , he definitely was notoriously falling down in the last few games...

 

[Ice009]

Crazy coincidence that someone brought up stats on it after you were talking about it and that someone was looking at stats of this during the game

 

[spursparker9]

They should track Castle's fall as well. His number of falls won't be below Wemby tbh.

Kornet also fall at least 4 to 5 times per game

 

[rogcl1]

Gotta disagree, Wemby dribbling into the turnover (and usually ending up on the ground) has been a major problem since Day 1. I could understand it when the team was running Point Sochan but with three high end point guards now who can and do feed him great looks it's ridiculous that he still does this low percentage move constantly. Ugh if he just operated from the high post where he's one dribble from the rim he could be so devastating an offensive option being uber athletic Vlade Divac. And before anyone shits on that Vlade in the high post was the engine of that incredible 02 Kings offense.

I agree 100 per cent. I believe part of the meshing problem stems from everyone including Wemby not knowing where he is going to be or what he is going to do. That is Mitch's job to establish that. At this time Wemby is not going to be a dominant low post player. He doesn't have the lower body strength and it appears he just doesn't want to. An occasional trip to the low block wont hurt though.He also doesn't need to be standing around the 3 pt. line waiting to get stripped of the ball. He has shown to be very effective receiving the ball in the high post{free throw area} and working from there. That and a basic pick and roll or slip screen or pick and pop from the key area will get him lobs or occasional 3 pointers. And I don't want to hear that he is not a good pick setter because if he wants to be great he can learn. I think that would be a great plan to start in the half court set to get everyone on the same page and build from there.
Obviously he can run the floor at times and I am perfectly ok with him shooting a wide open three on occasion as trailer on the break. I have watched this team since 1973 and it has been a joy to watch them grow and get better. It is exciting times for the Spurs but they are not a finished product and there will be bumps along the way.
I don't usually post much so sorry for the long post. I enjoy the Spurs and thanks for this site. Go Spurs Go.

 

[scott]

Some of the 3 point defense was laughable last night. Wemby was a huge part of the problem with his lack of discipline and ability or desire to close out on 3 point shooters.

Here’s just a snippet from the start of the second quarter. This wasn’t where the game was won or lost but it’s an absolute tell tale of a bigger problem defending the 3 which ended by biting them in the ass by the time the 4th quarter came and the Cavs started hitting and the Spurs went cold. Again this is just the first 2 minutes and 30 seconds of the 2nd quarter .

First three attempt by Tomlin was a wide open miss. Wemby falls over like a baby giraffe on offense for the millionth time, leads to a 5 on 4, wide open 3 from Tomlin is missed as Wemby crosses half court.

View attachment 236

Second three attempt is a make by Mitchell. Basic back screen by Porter on Fox that frees up Mitchell for a WIDE open 3 from the corner/wing. Barnes was guarding Porter is just ball watching Mobley backing down Wemby, why are you even that concerned with ball watching when Wemby as a one on one post defender against Mobley is a win for the Spurs. Barnes has absolutely zero fucking awareness to switch onto Mitchell after Fox gets picked off even tho his own man screens Fox. Terrible defense by Barnes.

View attachment 237

Third three attempt is a make by Tomlin. This is hilarious. Bryant defends beautifully but the 7’5 Center is standing in the paint leaving his man wide open in the corner on the strong side for a wide open 3. First Mitchell drives into the paint guarded by Champ, Wemby leaves his man Tomlin under the basket and rotates to stop Mitchells drive. It was a good rotation by Wemby even tho Champ had Mitchell on his hip. Bryant helps the helper and rotates off Hunter to Tomlin to stop the alley oop pass, leaving Hunter open at the 3 point line. Mitchell kicks it out to Hunter, Bryant scrambles back out and stone walls a Hunter drive to the basket. Hunter steps back out to the 3 point line and pump fakes a 3, Bryant contests but does a good job of not fouling, meanwhile Tomlin is now standing wide open in the corner right next to Hunter on the strong side, while Wemby stands under the basket. Hunter starts his shooting motion and Wemby turns and faces the basket seemingly to get the rebound, meanwhile Hunter passes it to Tomlin for a wide open corner 3. Wemby makes a fake attempt to close out. Bang, corner 3.

View attachment 238

Next offensive possession Wemby on the floor again. Turnover.

Next 3 is a make again by Tomlin. Real amateur hour defense again. Exact same spot in the corner, again it was Wembys man. This time it wasn’t all Wembys fault. Mitchell gets a slip screen from Mobley which absolutely destroys Barnes. Leaves Barnes near the half court line and both he and Castle about 5 feet behind Mitchell as he drives inside the arc, Wemby is forced to rotate to Mitchell who kicks it out to Tomlin in the corner wide open 3. Absolutely zero communication and pathetic defense by Barnes and Castle. Barnes shows way too hard like he’s switching onto Mitchell, Castle doesn’t switch to Mobley and just gets blown by by Mitchell, Wemby forced to rotate to Mitchell but he could have played both Mitchell and Tomlin and forced Mitchell to make a decision instead he just completely left Tomlin.

View attachment 239

View attachment 240

Great breakdown. I have noticed Wemby camping in the paint on D, leaving his man wide open for 3, like he's either lazy, just hunting blocks or this is part of the design of the defense (which only works if he's guarding a non shooter)

 

[rogcl1]

Great breakdown. I have noticed Wemby camping in the paint on D, leaving his man wide open for 3, like he's either lazy, just hunting blocks or this is part of the design of the defense (which only works if he's guarding a non shooter)

I saw that too and momentarily had flashbacks of Rodman. I believe Wemby needs some hard coaching right now on both sides of the ball and not the "let him figure it out thing".He wants to win and most certainly will accept the coaching.

 

[Kick-Stand]

These past few games are the reason why I said I wouldn't mind if Wemby keeps chucking 9 threes per game if it meant he'd stop dribbling the ball around.
Having a center average 35% on 9 attempts would open the floor so much more than whatever we're doing right now.

3pts, high post jumpshots, lobs, transition and offensive reboudns is all we need from him and he could easily average 28ppg like that.

On reason I hate that idea because the more he stands at the three point line the more he's gonna do Tragic Johnson drive into turnover or drive into offensive foul. I don't think you can get one without the other and he's too much of a weapon to be pulling out of possessions like that. I really only want him at the three point line if it's say to clear out because Fox, Castle, or Harper has a mismatch and wants to iso or it's an end of quarter possession and he's coming out there to screen for a guard. On the break is definitely a great time for Wemby to pull up for the open three though if there is enough defense back to prevent him from dunking.

 

[rogcl1]

On reason I hate that idea because the more he stands at the three point line the more he's gonna do Tragic Johnson drive into turnover or drive into offensive foul. I really only want him at the three point line if it's say to clear out because Fox, Castle, or Harper has a mismatch and wants to iso or it's an end of quarter possession and he's coming out there to screen for a guard. On the break is definitely a great time for Wemby to pull up for the open three though if there is enough defense back to prevent him from dunking.

Yes.

 

[LeBowen]

On reason I hate that idea because the more he stands at the three point line the more he's gonna do Tragic Johnson drive into turnover or drive into offensive foul. I don't think you can get one without the other and he's too much of a weapon to be pulling out of possessions like that. I really only want him at the three point line if it's say to clear out because Fox, Castle, or Harper has a mismatch and wants to iso or it's an end of quarter possession and he's coming out there to screen for a guard. On the break is definitely a great time for Wemby to pull up for the open three though if there is enough defense back to prevent him from dunking.

That's true for now, but if he doesn't develop the understanding that those random drives don't lead to anything good, then he won't ever become the best possible version of himself.
Thinking he can dribble past way quicker players with low center of gravity is just disrespectful, he's not playing against idiots. He only time he should be attacking off the dribble is against heavy 7-footers that can't keep up with him.

I won't say that the same applies to Castle, but the teams have figured his gimmicks out.
At this point his entire game is bulldozing into the paint and hoping that he's either strongh enough to go right through the defense or that they'll foul him.

He had a couple of dumb turnovers where the defender pretty much just screened him and waited for the bump, resulting in Castle losing balance and control of the ball.

 

[Itzsoweezee]

People complaining about Wemby not rotating out of the paint to close out on three point shooters is crazy to me.

He already has by far the biggest load to carry on defense among any player in the league. He’s a one man zone defense in the paint and covers up the constant blow-bys of his teammates (occasionally when he isn’t able to stop a 2-on-1 in the lane, you complain about that too). Now you want him to guard the other team’s three point shooters? What’s the point of playing him with four guards if they can’t guard the three point line themselves?

You guys are nuts.

 

[LeBowen]

People complaining about Wemby not rotating out of the paint to close out on three point shooters is crazy to me.

He already has by far the biggest load to carry on defense among any player in the league. He’s a one man zone defense in the paint and covers up the constant blow-bys of his teammates (occasionally when he isn’t able to stop a 2-on-1 in the lane, you complain about that too). Now you want him to guard the other team’s three point shooters? What’s the point of playing him with four guards if they can’t guard the three point line themselves?

You guys are nuts.

I think that the idea is to have him play a bit more conventionally even if it means giving up some more points in the paint because playing 4v5 on the perimeter is really difficult.

And it's not just about leaving his man in the corner. He just sits at the FT line on every high screen above the 3pt line even when the ballhandler is a great 3pt shooter.
Same happens for off ball screens his man sets.
You think it's a coincidence Curry dropped almost a 100 on us in 2 games?

We're basically saying that Wemby's man can do whatever he wants above the 3pt line, whether it be corner 3s or basically having one of our other guys play 1v2 against high PNR.
It has no chance of working in the playoffs against elite teams.

What will happen if we defend Murray/Jokic PNR with drop coverage starting at the FT line? How many wide open 3s will it generate?

 

[Kick-Stand]

I won't say that the same applies to Castle, but the teams have figured his gimmicks out.
At this point his entire game is bulldozing into the paint and hoping that he's either strongh enough to go right through the defense or that they'll foul him.

Like Mike Tyson said, everyone has a plan until they get punched and Steph is such a strong and athletic player with great handles that you can know what he's going to do and he still gets his. He has a pretty obvious defensive scouting report and yet he's still having a monster second year. Especially with the league calling those SGA bulldoze into the defender fouls I think it's going to remain a great option for Steph to get cheap points and put the other team's bigs in foul trouble.

 

[Kick-Stand]

I think that the idea is to have him play a bit more conventionally even if it means giving up some more points in the paint because playing 4v5 on the perimeter is really difficult.

And it's not just about leaving his man in the corner. He just sits at the FT line on every high screen above the 3pt line even when the ballhandler is a great 3pt shooter.
Same happens for off ball screens his man sets.
You think it's a coincidence Curry dropped almost a 100 on us in 2 games?

We're basically saying that Wemby's man can do whatever he wants above the 3pt line, whether it be corner 3s or basically having one of our other guys play 1v2 against high PNR.
It has no chance of working in the playoffs against elite teams.

What will happen if we defend Murray/Jokic PNR with drop coverage starting at the FT line? How many wide open 3s will it generate?

Yeah definitely can't play that same defense against Golden State. But thankfully there aren't a lot of Currys in the league. And Wemby definitely has to get his ass out on Jokic pretty much as soon as he crosses the logo.

 

[Itzsoweezee]

I think that the idea is to have him play a bit more conventionally even if it means giving up some more points in the paint because playing 4v5 on the perimeter is really difficult.

And it's not just about leaving his man in the corner. He just sits at the FT line on every high screen above the 3pt line even when the ballhandler is a great 3pt shooter.
Same happens for off ball screens his man sets.
You think it's a coincidence Curry dropped almost a 100 on us in 2 games?

We're basically saying that Wemby's man can do whatever he wants above the 3pt line, whether it be corner 3s or basically having one of our other guys play 1v2 against high PNR.
It has no chance of working in the playoffs against elite teams.

What will happen if we defend Murray/Jokic PNR with drop coverage starting at the FT line? How many wide open 3s will it generate?

Isn’t that the scheme? We’re playing drop on every screen, whether it’s Wemby or Luke. I agree the scheme doesn’t make sense (I’ve complained about it before), but I don’t think it’s Wemby just ad libbing what to do in those situations.

 

[rogcl1]

People complaining about Wemby not rotating out of the paint to close out on three point shooters is crazy to me.

He already has by far the biggest load to carry on defense among any player in the league. He’s a one man zone defense in the paint and covers up the constant blow-bys of his teammates (occasionally when he isn’t able to stop a 2-on-1 in the lane, you complain about that too). Now you want him to guard the other team’s three point shooters? What’s the point of playing him with four guards if they can’t guard the three point line themselves?

You guys are nuts.

It totally depends who his defensive responsibility is. If its someone who can hit 3's he can still hedge the lane but he is very tall and yes he can apply some pressure on closeouts when he is guarding a shooter. Im not saying its all on Wemby. I don't know what the scheme is.

 

[LeBowen]

This is what I'm talking about.
Fox got completely screened, Wemby with no intention to step up and contest Garland.
Obviously somewhat understandable against Allen, one of the best rollers in the league, but we did the exact same thing against the Jazz and George/Nurkic PNR.
George being a legit threat from 3pt and Nurkic being a slow, washed veteran Wemby can easily block on the roll even when he's a step behind.

But then again it's a lose-lose situation because Barnes stepping in to stop the roll doesn't have much effect because of his lack of size.
If we had someone Gordon-sized in there, Wemby can easily step up and stop that pull up 3, Fox rotates to the wing, Champ to the corner and a legit PF stops the roll.

Like this we have nothing but thoughts and prayers that we won't get torched from the 3pt line.

 

[scott]

View attachment 242

This is what I'm talking about.
Fox got completely screened, Wemby with no intention to step up and contest Garland.
Obviously somewhat understandable against Allen, one of the best rollers in the league, but we did the exact same thing against the Jazz and George/Nurkic PNR.
George being a legit threat from 3pt and Nurkic being a slow, washed veteran Wemby can easily block on the roll even when he's a step behind.

But then again it's a lose-lose situation because Barnes stepping in to stop the roll doesn't have much effect because of his lack of size.
If we had someone Gordon-sized in there, Wemby can easily step up and stop that pull up 3, Fox rotates to the wing, Champ to the corner and a legit PF stops the roll.

Like this we have nothing but thoughts and prayers that we won't get torched from the 3pt line.

Great call out. If this is how Wemby is going to guard PnR, then teams are just going to be able to create open looks for 3 all day with a simple screen. No bueno.

 

[LeBowen]

Great call out. If this is how Wemby is going to guard PnR, then teams are just going to be able to create open looks for 3 all day with a simple screen. No bueno.

It's how we've been guarding it all season long, which is strange because I don't remember it being a thing last season.
Maybe I'm going senile, but I remember being in awe of Wemby's ability to defend the PNR since he could step up, scare the ballhandler and still recover to his roll man with ease.

 

[spurs10]

Great breakdown. I have noticed Wemby camping in the paint on D, leaving his man wide open for 3, like he's either lazy, just hunting blocks or this is part of the design of the defense (which only works if he's guarding a non shooter)

Yes I saw the same and several uncontested 3s hurt us a lot. I hope they watched some film because there were several 3s with no one in sight.

 

[DTW]

This game started poorly with Castle playing hero ball and missing every shot. It's hard for anyone to get into rhythm when you never touch the ball. Now when they did touch the ball Vassell, Champ, and Barnes missed. Wemby kept leaving his man wide open and those were the 3s that put us a way it seemed. In fact their 3 pt shooting was bad as well, but they hit their many open 3s. Knicks will be a tough one.

Like so many of them do, yet Wembanyama receives far more criticism for it.

Vassell, Barnes and Champagnie also forced a bunch of 3s probably because they were so shocked they actually got to touch the ball and realized it'd likely be a while before they did again.

Wembanyama leaving the mediocre - non shooters they have him "defend" is intentional, in an effort to keep him as close to the paint and rim as possible.