Player The unfortunately low-ceilinged Shaolin monastery of Victor Wembanyama

[Area 51.247]

Our mentally-soft “superstar” getting outperformed by DeAndre Ayton. Nasty work tbh.

Ayton seemed to take this challenge as a defining moment for his basketball repution rehabilitation. That he really was worthy of a Number One pick and eventually, the appropriate contract.

Looked like it wasn't as urgent for Wembanyama. That's the lesson he and the Spurs have to learn how to prepare for: being ready, day in and day out, to do the big and little things that lead to gritting out wins.

 

[Neuromancer]

Starting to get really annoyed with Victor's passivity, especially from 3. He doesn't need to launch 10 a game but he needs to be shooting them at least 5-6 times a night. He's shooting 26% on 3.3 attempts per game which is not going to cut it. Dude is trying to overcorrect way too hard right now and his game along with the team is suffering because of it

 

[BatManu20]

He's clearly flustered with the way teams are defending him right now. PHX gave the league the blueprint on how to effectively defend The Alien, especially when we don't have a PG to direct traffic, and now it's on Mitch and his staff to adjust to it, because every team we play moving forward is going to continue to do this until we do.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1986329931706434026

 

[SpursFan86]

It’s really simple: he needs to learn how to still get to his spots and make the right plays when he’s the clear focal point for opposing defenses.

The idea that the Spurs need to draw up better plays to help or that we need other players around him that discourage teams from putting all the focus on Wemby isn’t wrong…but the fact of the matter is truly great players can and will overcome stuff like that. Look at what Jokic has been doing for the past half decade regardless of who Denver has around him. Look at what LeBron did in Cleveland despite having minimal surrounding talent and not having some GOAT-tier coach scheming up plays left and right.

There are other things that will make Wemby’s life easier but in the end we’re just making excuses for a player who needs to live up to extremely high expectations. All this being said - I think some people here are being a little harsh. Questioning his character or mentality and worrying that he’ll never figure it out is a little overboard IMO. He’s 21 years old and has 1.5 seasons of NBA experience under his belt. He admitted that the game feels fast right now. I believe he will figure it out and get to that next level we all want to see…but these past few games should be a wake up call that he’s not there quite yet.

 

[Unseen]

Wemby has allot to be blamed on for his struggles but it's also not helping very much that the majority of his teammates don't know how to feed him the ball. I mean how hard is it to get the ball to a 7 5 target on a lob or post? We have players on this team that have been with him for 3 years that still can't figure it out

 

[PanameSpur]

You mean he's a bad person? WTF

lol not at all...

Character is a bigger factor than IQ in anyone's success in life.

Being too smart is actually often a handicap bc basically you constantly have too many option to think about. A lot of millionaires are dumb af but are driven people who just do "simple" things again and again etc

I think Wemby is being too cute with his intelligence and tends to overthink = waste time and hesitate.

It's often better to have 1 or 2 options than 5-6

Wemby needs to start with simple then add instead of what he's doing = try to do what's never been done

 

[OK Computer]

Wemby has allot to be blamed on for his struggles but it's also not helping very much that the majority of his teammates don't know how to feed him the ball. I mean how hard is it to get the ball to a 7 5 target on a lob or post? We have players on this team that have been with him for 3 years that still can't figure it out

If Chris Paul couldn’t get the ball to him much better than other players, what hope do other players have? Maybe the answer is not so simple and Wemby bears equal responsibility with his positioning and court awareness.

 

[Wemby_Island]

Well, to be fair, Kobe didn't give a crap about the team either, so why should his fans.

Hm, when Deandre fucking Ayton has a better statline than Wemby, it's fair to say that something has gone wrong. To me, it seems like a combination of the team not finding ways to set him up for good shots/easy points and him reverting to struggle to establish position closer to the basket early on in possessions. I hope Wemby realizes that him shooting fade-away jumpers over defenders much much smaller than him will always be an automatic win for the opponent's defense.

Deandre fucking Ayton has fatso to set him up

Who does Wemby have?

For me Wemby is starting the games well, but when our guys are refusing to give him the ball, its getting to his head and its downhill from there.

Setting up the ball to him in 1st 5 minutes is the most important thing. If he rolls in 5 mins, he will do well.

 

[Kick-Stand]

I think it's not fair to compare TD and Wemby

TD started his career next to a HOFer and savvy vets + a future HOFer coach who was fully dedicated to make him succeed.

Wemby had to start with one of the worst rosters in NBA history that barely got better 3 years later and a rookie coach making rookie mistakes on a regular basis.

Just imagine if Wemby started next to the admiral and all the vets...

Wemby has a backcourt that age 21-22 Duncan would have killed for, and nothing about 1997-98 Pop was HOF level other than the meltdowns he'd have against the refs where Paul Pressey would have to hold him back.

 

[spurraider21]

To be fair to the kid, he does not and will never have TD's tree-like core and lower body strength. That is a significant reason for his inability to post up closer to the basket. I say this, though, a stronger desire to fight for position would help his case greatly.
But he just does not have the drive for it.

well, with the lack of that core and lower body strength, it takes a great deal more energy for him to fight for low position, which will also leave him drained.

with that said, him catching the ball at the top of the arc and putting on crossovers and driving hard at his size is also going to wear him out. its particularly concerning to me that the 10-12 foot mirdange bunnies aren't falling for him. ive beaten the dead horse on wemby not having any go-to move when we need a bucket and just kind of improvising every time he catches the ball, but i was hoping that easy 12 foot turnaround could be his bread and butter

 

[spurraider21]

Wemby has allot to be blamed on for his struggles but it's also not helping very much that the majority of his teammates don't know how to feed him the ball. I mean how hard is it to get the ball to a 7 5 target on a lob or post? We have players on this team that have been with him for 3 years that still can't figure it out

its not like wemby has battled into good position, sealed a defender off, and then have teammates refuse to get him the ball. when he is just hanging out there 16 feet away from the rim with a hand up, a defender fronting him, and several help defenders around becuase he's in the middle of the court... its not really much of a passing opportunity unless a team plays him like Dallas and just tries to defend him 1 on 1 every time

 

[J_Posse301]

lol not at all...

Character is a bigger factor than IQ in anyone's success in life.

Being too smart is actually often a handicap bc basically you constantly have too many option to think about. A lot of millionaires are dumb af but are driven people who just do "simple" things again and again etc

I think Wemby is being too cute with his intelligence and tends to overthink = waste time and hesitate.

It's often better to have 1 or 2 options than 5-6

Wemby needs to start with simple then add instead of what he's doing = try to do what's never been done

Are people really going to start peddling this narrative, again?

The team has its 2 primary PGs out with injury, so struggling with getting him the ball (especially on lobs) is a given.

He is just backpedaling and settling for jumpers as defenses play him more physically + swarm him.

 

[Shmurs]

It’s really simple: he needs to learn how to still get to his spots and make the right plays when he’s the clear focal point for opposing defenses.

The idea that the Spurs need to draw up better plays to help or that we need other players around him that discourage teams from putting all the focus on Wemby isn’t wrong…but the fact of the matter is truly great players can and will overcome stuff like that. Look at what Jokic has been doing for the past half decade regardless of who Denver has around him. Look at what LeBron did in Cleveland despite having minimal surrounding talent and not having some GOAT-tier coach scheming up plays left and right.

There are other things that will make Wemby’s life easier but in the end we’re just making excuses for a player who needs to live up to extremely high expectations. All this being said - I think some people here are being a little harsh. Questioning his character or mentality and worrying that he’ll never figure it out is a little overboard IMO. He’s 21 years old and has 1.5 seasons of NBA experience under his belt. He admitted that the game feels fast right now. I believe he will figure it out and get to that next level we all want to see…but these past few games should be a wake up call that he’s not there quite yet.

Lebron and jokic will sit you in time out and tell you what did wrong in a very not nice way when one of their guys forgets who is in charge and how the offense operates.

Wemby pulls them aside to discuss the vegan options at the team lunch earlier. I’ve never seen him rip into anyone. Closest he came was weirdly going off on something barnes did last preseason.

He needs to understand he’s the boss of the team.

 

[PanameSpur]

Are people really going to start peddling this narrative, again?

The team has its 2 premiere PGs out with injury, so struggling with getting him the ball (especially on lobs) is a given.

He is just backpedaling and settling for jumpers as defenses play him more physically + swarm him.

It's a little bit of both.

 

[Max_power]

I think it's a mental thing, we need the competitive/angry Wemby. This emo/sad Wemby isn't working.

Hopefully with Fox return , things will be a little easier for him.

 

[NASpurs]

If Wemby needs another player to set him up, then he's not a top five player. I'm thinking of the current top five and they all can make shit happen on their own. We saw glimpses of Wemby making things happen in the first five games but then the last two teams have figured him out. Now it's his turn to adjust.

 

[Wemby_Island]

He will adjust. Problem is he is too good.

And also can we ship players like Vasell who never pass the ball.

 

[Itzsoweezee]

The lack of points, I can somewhat understand. But Vic’s rebounding has also fallen off big time the last two games. That is concerning. Is he dealing with some undisclosed injury? Is he just worried about foul calls? It’s weird.

 

[PocketMonger]

The double teams have reverted Wemby back to his SG playing style.

Wemby is a shoot first C who needs a PG who can bring the ball up the court, let Wemby get to his spots and set up scoring opportunities. No competent PG play is killing him right now.

 

[Mugen]

I'm guessing they didn't have a treadmill at the monastery tbh.

 

[Shmurs]

The lack of points, I can somewhat understand. But Vic’s rebounding has also fallen off big time the last two games. That is concerning. Is he dealing with some undisclosed injury? Is he just worried about foul calls? It’s weird.

I also find these games to be weird and don’t find them to fit the “off night” stuff. Fundamentally different team and attitude. Because Wemby gets doubled everything is cancelled? Was all the swagger from the first week because they forgot this strategy existed and now they’re just devastated that they have to deal with it? Why does everyone suck at the same time?

 

[scott]

There is a greater than zero chance that by the ASB, Fox is our clear first option and Wemby is his Robin and not the team's Batman (on offense anyway)

 

[BatManu20]

I think it's a mental thing, we need the competitive/angry Wemby. This emo/sad Wemby isn't working.

Hopefully with Fox return , things will be a little easier for him.

Wemby when he's getting double-teamed:

 

[BatManu20]

He will adjust. Problem is he is too good.

And also can we ship players like Vasell who never pass the ball.

No team is trading for vASSell with 4 years/nearly $80M left on his deal unless there's assets attached to it tbh. He's currently shooting 40% from the floor and 33% from 3 in year 5. Teams know by now that he's an inefficient chucker.

 

[BatManu20]

Starting to get really annoyed with Victor's passivity, especially from 3. He doesn't need to launch 10 a game but he needs to be shooting them at least 5-6 times a night. He's shooting 26% on 3.3 attempts per game which is not going to cut it. Dude is trying to overcorrect way too hard right now and his game along with the team is suffering because of it

Yea he needs to fire up more 3's to open up spacing and keep defenses honest, but he also needs to starting hitting them at a higher clip. Every time he fires one up it feels like we know it's not going to go in. He needs to get out of his own head, choose his spots, and shoot the ball with confidence. He shot 35% from 3 last year on nearly 9 attempts per so we know he's capable.