Victor Wembanyama on the Speed of the Game Amid Spurs' Loss to Lakers
After a strong start to the season, Victor Wembanyama experienced a challenging night as the San Antonio Spurs fell 118-116 to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Wembanyama told reporters that the pace of the game "feels fast right now," partly because opposing teams have adjusted their defensive strategies specifically to contain him.
Adjusting to New Defensive Pressure
Wembanyama noted that the level of defense he's facing is unlike anything he has seen before. He emphasized the need for the Spurs to adapt together as a team.
"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."
Impact of Double-Teams by the Lakers
The heavy use of double-teams by the Lakers was particularly troublesome for Wembanyama. He described how the Lakers were well-prepared to quickly double-team him after he caught the ball.
"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."
Performance and Key Moments
- Wembanyama scored 19 points on 5-of-14 shooting.
- He grabbed eight rebounds and committed five turnovers in 33 minutes.
- He fouled out with under two minutes remaining while the Spurs trailed 113-112.
- San Antonio had a chance to tie the game with one second left, but Julian Champagnie missed two free throws, sealing the Lakers' win.
This marked Wembanyama's second foul-out in the first seven games of the season, exceeding his total from the previous two seasons combined.
Author's Summary
Wembanyama faces new defensive challenges this season as opponents aggressively double-team him, forcing both personal and team adaptation amid tough losses.