Victor Wembanyama Reflects on Fast Pace Amid Struggles in Spurs' Loss to Lakers
Following a strong season start, Victor Wembanyama faced difficulties in the San Antonio Spurs' narrow 118-116 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. The game "feels fast right now," Wembanyama explained, noting that opposing teams have adapted their defense specifically to counter him.
Defensive Adjustments Challenging Wembanyama
"Personally, I haven't seen this kind of defense from teams," Wembanyama told reporters after the Spurs' second consecutive loss. "We need to adapt as a collective. In the Phoenix game, it was the case as well. We're learning."
He highlighted the frequent double-teams from the Lakers as a major obstacle. "Mostly, it was the doubling. They probably studied our situations thoroughly since they seemed very prepared. It felt like they let me catch the ball but were ready to double immediately and rotate afterward."
Performance and Game Highlights
- Wembanyama scored 19 points on 5-of-14 shooting
- He grabbed eight rebounds and committed five turnovers in 33 minutes
- Fouled out with under two minutes left while Spurs trailed 113-112
San Antonio had a chance to tie in the final second after Julian Champagnie was fouled on a shooting attempt, but missed both free throws, securing the Lakers' victory.
Season Fouling Trend
This game marked the second time in seven season starts that Wembanyama has fouled out, already exceeding the total from his previous two seasons combined.
"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." — Victor Wembanyama
Author's summary: Victor Wembanyama faces new defensive challenges leading to a tough game against the Lakers, highlighting the need for team adaptation amid his rapid learning curve.