Victor Wembanyama Comments on Fast Pace Amid Challenges Against Lakers
After an impressive start to the season, Victor Wembanyama experienced a difficult game during the San Antonio Spurs' 118-116 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. Wembanyama said the game "feels fast right now," partly because opposing teams have adjusted defensively to counter him.
Adjusting to New Defensive Strategies
Wembanyama noted the unusual defensive pressure from teams this season:
"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."
Double-Teams Pose Significant Challenge
He highlighted the frequent double-teams from the Lakers as a major difficulty:
"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 Fouls
- 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.
The Spurs had a chance to tie the game with one second left, but Julian Champagnie missed two critical free throws, securing the Lakers' victory. This game marked the second time in seven this season Wembanyama fouled out, exceeding his total from the previous two seasons combined.
Author's Summary
Victor Wembanyama faces tough defensive adjustments as he adapts to frequent double-teams, impacting his performance amid the Spurs' close losses early in the season.