SAN ANTONIO Given that Victor Wembanyamas substantial 7-foot-5 frame towered over all other occupants of Frost Bank Center on Friday night, his constant sulking and head-hanging through a four-point first half stuck out like a sore thumb.
Wembanyama was frustrated. From a physicality standpoint, the Frenchman had allowed Houstons aggressive defense to get the best of him on multiple occasions, even laying flat on the ground at times, unable to combat the Rockets various defenders. But from a mentality standpoint, Wembanyamas entire approach was being dictated by Ime Udokas aggressive scheme, with the third-year center shying away from the restricted area and settling for jumpers.
For a Spurs team that had lost two straight, a third consecutive defeat was seemingly in the cards. San Antonio has taken on the identity of Wembanyama, and in games where his mistakes outweigh his excellence 10 fouls and 11 turnovers combined in losses to the Suns and Lakers the team negatively morphs into that image.
After one downtrodden look too many late in the second quarter, teammate Keldon Johnson had seen enough, giving Wembanyama an emphatic slap to the chest. A recalibration of sorts.
By the time the third quarter had rolled around, Wembanyamas demeanor had shifted instantly. Gone was the second-guessing and avoidance of Houstons pressure. He hunted it, using the Rockets gameplan against them and posting a dominant 18-point second half on 6-of-10 shooting to push the Spurs to a 121-110 victory in Group C play of the NBA Cup.
I dont think its some epiphany or anything, head coach Mitch Johnson said of Wembys closing efforts. I think hes slowed down and allowed the reads to unfold. When he gets the ball and we space properly, teams have to decide to guard one-on-one or bring multiple bodies. And when he does that, because hes so cerebral, hes able to make reads and we get really competent quality possessions and I thought he did a really good job with that.
Because of the explosive manner in which Wembanyama started the season, averaging 33.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 6 blocks against the likes of Dallas, Brooklyn and New Orleans, external expectations around the Spurs rose. Run-of-the-mill performances against Phoenix and Los Angeles tempered some of the lofty goals set by those same individuals.
The truth is somewhere in the middle. Yes, Wembanyama is quickly asserting himself among the leagues best, and as a result, San Antonio should be recognized as a dangerous team in the Western Conference. But they are far from a finished product. Wembanyama himself is still an unfinished product. This is a team that is still working to incorporate DeAaron Fox, who is slated to make his regular-season debut on Saturday after recovering from a hamstring injury, and are still awaiting the return of electric rookie guard Dylan Harper from a calf injury.
Thats why nights like these are so important. The NBA is a copycat league and the Rockets, having seen how recent teams found success in defending Wembanyama, duplicated the method, bumping and fighting him for 48 minutes. As Wembanyama continues to grow physically and become a stronger player with a solid base, opposing defenses will in turn test his limits. Houston threw everything but the kitchen sink his way fronting him and denying entry passes, blitzing him on catches and swarming on potential drives.
But the cerebral aspect of Wembanyamas game, how he adjusts to adjustments, is what will determine his and San Antonios ceiling. Every game wont be against the Nets or Pelicans where he can showcase his battering ram skills. Some games, against elite defenses, require the precision and skill of a surgeon. Picking his spots wisely, knowing when to probe, when to attack. Wembanyama, who played the final 4:48 with five fouls, found a nice balance remaining aggressive within the lines of legality.
Obviously, Vic has faced a variety of coverages this season, Spurs forward Harrison Barnes said. Double teams, box-and-one and all types of stuff. I think hes done a good job of just being patient. Understanding its a learning process but still being aggressive and helping us win these games.
According to Cleaning the Glass, Wembanyamas assist percentage has steadily decreased since entering the league; 21.4% as a rookie to 16.4% as of Nov. 7. Its still a healthy position 75th percentile among bigs but one that underlines his growing importance as a go-to halfcourt option.
Defenses will never ease up their approach on Wembanyama what hes currently facing will only ramp up as his development spikes. But as he showed in the second half against Houston, his playmaking continues to be an underrated skill, not simply for the plays hes directly involved in but the reads he makes a move or two ahead. Per Second Spectrum, Wembanyama, who finished with four assists on Friday, is second on the team in passes made (282), third in secondary assists (six) and second in potential assists (52). The more teams load up on Wembanyama, the more he can involve others around him in a properly spaced environment.
Their lineups changed, Wembanyama said. And it felt like they wanted to score a little more, so they put offensive players in. So I think their individual defense maybe diminished because of that. It was a little more open.
The Spurs put an impressive performance together against a Rockets team that had won five in a row, outmuscling them on the offensive glass and outthinking them in the halfcourt. For Wembanyama, the next step is figuring out the sweet spot between brains and brawn.