Pounding The Rock - All PostsFor all your Manu Ginobili loving and San Antonio Spurs newshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/12497/ptr-fv.jpg2024-03-28T11:59:18-05:00http://www.poundingtherock.com/rss/current/2024-03-28T11:59:18-05:002024-03-28T11:59:18-05:00What We Learned from the Spurs win over the Jazz
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<figcaption>Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>San Antonio takes advantage of a great shooting night.</p> <p id="rWf5Uc">Winning seems easy. Feels like something the Spurs should do more of. Wednesday’s game was an entirely pleasant experience from start to finish. San Antonio came out of the gates firing. They held on when they were challenged and they finished strong. They shot the lights out. They played great team defense. I mean, yeah. 10 out of 10. No notes!</p>
<p id="HzElvV">Ok. <em>Some</em> notes. The turnovers are still killing me. I know, seems crazy to even bring it up right now but we have to. We’ve got to shine a light because it still feels like the most emblematic issue for a team that wants to good but can’t help but do bad. They still get sloppy. The decision making ability seems to just fly out the window and great opportunities fall apart before they even have a chance to get going. They’re either going too fast or going to slow. Thinking too much or not enough. It’s been a season-long search for balance and they still can’t quite dial it in for a game. It’s a problem.</p>
<p id="wOIlex">Another note. I love Devin Vassell evolving into an offensive force. It’s a good look on him. He’s feeling himself right now and you can tell that every time he gets the ball he’s hunting. Every shot feels like a good one. The basket is the size of the ocean. He could be falling out of bounds surrounded by two defenders and he’s still look up and be like, “I think I got this.” It’s a fun thing and I had fun watching it. That said, our offensive plan can’t be “Devin shoots 60% from the field.” Just like it can’t be “hope Victor goes supernova.” The Spurs were bailed out of a lot of bad-to-medium possessions by Devin deciding to just be The Dude last night and, as much fun as that is, it’s hard to think it’s sustainable.</p>
<p id="r99849">One more note. Let’s see, uh...Wembanyama needs to be....uh...even better? Yea. Vic needs to be better. Five blocks? <em>Only</em> five blocks? Yawn. We get it, he’s tall. We’ve seen him get five blocks before, shoot, we see it practically every other time he hits the floor and, frankly, it’s getting boring. Doesn’t give me the buzz it used to. The law of diminishing returns demands that we get 7-8 blocks per game from Wemby. At a minimum! I want double digits every few games. No ball should ever feel safe from the long arms of the Wembanyama law. </p>
<p id="jxwe1b">Obviously it’s hard to find too much at fault with the Spurs’ seven point win in Utah. Shoot, they’re on a dang winning streak right now, we should be practically be pulling out the champagne and firing up the boats for a river parade. This is the type of play that it feels like these guys should be capable of every night. It’s the type of game that makes something like that fumbled loss to Memphis the other night sting a little more than it used to. These guys are getting better. They are figuring out what to do and we’ve seen them execute it. </p>
<p id="7U809E">I think everyone realizes that the time for excuses is rapidly drawing to a close. It’s no longer just about “getting a little better” every night. They’ve worked their butts off to raise the standard of expectations that we should have for them and boy are we proud of them for doing so. But that’s just the first step. Now it’s about repeating the process. I want to see games like this over and over and over again. </p>
<p id="bEH6jm">This season might be drawing to a close, but it feels like everything is just getting started. </p>
<h3 id="fSCcAz"><strong>Takeaways:</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li id="y6RxYT">Can’t say enough about how much fun Devin is to watch right now. I don’t know if a switch flipped with him or something but it feels like he’s really coming into his own as player. He’s had a tough time momentum-wise. His injury last year was obviously a huge blow and then you could tell that it was taking him a little longer to mesh his playing style alongside Victor’s. You’d be forgiven for worrying about whether or not he has the juice. Well, fear not. The juice is loose. He’s feeling confident with his shot and when that’s going down for him, the whole court opens up. He’s dropping into his two man game with Vic like they’ve been doing it for years and it just looks so smooth right now. I love it. I need to shut up about it so I don’t scare it away. </li>
<li id="GazXjr">Jeremy Sochan has put together a really nice stretch of games. He’s so hard to evaluate because his game is pretty amorphous. It’s full of intangible things and little moments that make a huge difference even if they aren’t necessarily filling out the box score. Veteran watchers of this weird little Spurs campaign know when we’re having a good Sochan night versus a bad one and trying to define the reasons why is like trying to explain why the flavor of an apple tastes good. It’s an apple. It’s, I dunno, sweet? Tart? Apple-ish? It tastes good because it...it tastes good. Leave me alone! The point is, Jeremy has been good lately. Don’t ask me how I know that. </li>
<li id="jBolMn">It’s insane that the Spurs had 40 assists. I’m not going to look up their numbers on the year because I don’t have that kind of time and, frankly, whenever I start delving into historical stats my eyes start to glaze over. But 40 seems like a lot! It certainly <em>felt</em> like a lot while watching it. It made the offense feel better and more in rhythm. The Spurs shot well, which helps, but this kind of ball movement clearly suits the guys on the floor. The looks were better. The defense wasn’t forcing them out of their actions. The air felt more crisp. More ball movement please! </li>
<li id="QqzToX">I know I complained about Victor needing to get more blocks and, clearly, that’s just a very funny bit from Dr. Jokes over here but, on a real level, I do kind of want to see him get more blocks. It’s maybe my favorite thing that happens in Spurs games at the moment and I’m starting to crave it. Any time an opposing player wanders into the paint I sort of sit up in my chair. Is he going to try it? Does he think he has an opening? Do it. Throw it up. See what happens! I love all the blocks with Vic coming out of nowhere for a deft little touch. Vic being an absolute unscalable wall. Vic standing behind a dude and just grabbing it. It’s all the best. My greatest fear is that he’s getting too good at this and we’re just going to stop seeing people challenge him all together. </li>
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<p lang="da" dir="ltr"> DEFENSE. OFFENSE. <a href="https://t.co/5qnqKPVGgM">pic.twitter.com/5qnqKPVGgM</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773165516368073075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="cto9cS"><strong>WWL Post Game Press Conference</strong></p>
<p id="p5InWP"><em>- Do you feel out of practice writing about wins?</em></p>
<p id="pUddKQ">- A little bit, yea. It’s a hard muscle to leave dormant for soo long. I think I’ve only written about three wins this season and last year wasn’t....too much better. Again, I don’t like digging into stats and data so I won’t. </p>
<p id="Sqjk8y"><em>- You don’t feel like that’s a part of your job?</em></p>
<p id="fYqXHf">- Stats and data? Absolutely not. If they wanted me to be digging into stats and data I’m sure someone would’ve told me by now. </p>
<p id="Uku8QE"><em>- You don’t think that writing about a team from a place of “authority” on the subject implies that you should have a cursory understanding of basketball stats? </em></p>
<p id="tQUKu4">- I think a lot of things and I’d be happy to tell you about them but one thing I do not think is that I should, under any circumstances, assume that extra work on my part is implied. That goes against everything I believe in. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etYkG1u5TmY">A man got to have a code</a>. </p>
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https://www.poundingtherock.com/2024/3/28/24114544/what-we-learned-san-antonio-spurs-win-utah-jazzCharlie Thaddeus2024-03-28T09:42:03-05:002024-03-28T09:42:03-05:00An all-around team performance helped the Spurs defeat Jazz
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<figcaption>AP Photo/Rick Bowmer</figcaption>
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<p>Spurs shoot 49% from three to start another win streak.</p> <p id="ozvEYr">Coming off an impressive win against the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, the Spurs looked to carry the momentum to Salt Lake City against the Jazz. Even though it was not a wire-to-wire win, it certainly felt like it. They grabbed a 29-15 lead after the first quarter and simply did not look back. They won 118-111 thanks to some great performances.</p>
<p id="k6ERP1">Devin Vassell led the team with 31 points, six assists, four rebounds, and a steal. Even with Wemby returning, Devin still showed a dominant performance shooting the basketball by going 12 of 20. He still remains one of the most underrated players in the game today.</p>
<p id="tC53fY">Devin shot 4 of 8 from three, including this one early in the first.</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr">D3V <a href="https://t.co/yqCaueOLnL">pic.twitter.com/yqCaueOLnL</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773160484981653520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="8gSr9J">AND including this one! Devin does his best Wemby impression with a running one-legged three from the corner to beat the shot clock buzzer!</p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr">DEV <a href="https://t.co/2yShW0ejXc">pic.twitter.com/2yShW0ejXc</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773170193046368265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="Fm8NWS">Devin gets it done on defense too. Here he deflects Collin Sexton’s pass which leads to wide-open slam!</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">steal & slam ‼️ <a href="https://t.co/OHzcKO5RQv">pic.twitter.com/OHzcKO5RQv</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773174207213408440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="lDrZQD"><strong>POSTER ALERT:</strong> After receiving the lead bounce pass from Zach Collins, Devin puts Brice Sensabaugh on a screensaver! </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">DEVIN ARE YOU KIDDING?!? <a href="https://t.co/O5bg1EU4u2">pic.twitter.com/O5bg1EU4u2</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773177453105553777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<div id="qpEPEy"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xCB0ywA43ek?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="IW37yK">Victor Wembanyama returned from injury and did not miss a beat. He dropped 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five blocks. Nothing to see here, this is just a common Wemby statline (Especially the five blocks)!</p>
<p id="P6Vv8e">Victor executes the slip screen to perfection and finds himself wide-open for the ferocious slam thanks to the Devin feed!</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">with AUTHORITY! <a href="https://t.co/ls8GnxpmjH">pic.twitter.com/ls8GnxpmjH</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773158463822008675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="v1DvRC">Tre Jones finds Wemby all alone skying for the alley-oop! </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">HAVIN' FUN OUT HERE <a href="https://t.co/pBtfgoZHH2">pic.twitter.com/pBtfgoZHH2</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773164418320277742?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="ZscmIQ">Just call this a trademark Wemby sequence at this point. Wemby stuffs Lauri Markannen at the rim from behind and then runs the floor to finish the alley-oop feed from Cedi Osman. He is simply ridiculous!</p>
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<p lang="da" dir="ltr"> DEFENSE. OFFENSE. <a href="https://t.co/5qnqKPVGgM">pic.twitter.com/5qnqKPVGgM</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773165516368073075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="flo7sF">Oh yeah, don’t forget about his playmaking. On the fastbreak, Wemby drops a sweet dime to Julian Champagnie for the slam!</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE PASS. THE FINISH. <a href="https://t.co/GbCQeQEodW">pic.twitter.com/GbCQeQEodW</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773177141036773637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="7NNupD">Wemby is so tall and skilled, he can turn any pass caught at his chest into an alley-oop finish! Here, he gets the and-one by finishing over Sensabaugh.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Count it ☝️ <a href="https://t.co/vfIRLFpwFB">pic.twitter.com/vfIRLFpwFB</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773183239588347906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="EDyGfY">Clutch moment: With the Jazz making a small run at the end, Wemby shuts down Walker Kessler by swatting his shot and collecting the board to clinch the game.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">BIG TIME BLOCK! <a href="https://t.co/VuG09lvj91">pic.twitter.com/VuG09lvj91</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773188172303798338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<div id="UAsmZC"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jOHtf6tX0-o?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="jNtegZ">Malaki Branham had a solid game off the bench with 17 points, an assist, and a steal. Huge improvement from last game. Malaki continues to shine bright late in the season.</p>
<p id="lZRaip">Malaki was 3 of 5 from three, and drained a lazer near the end of the third.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's foooourth quarter tiiiime! <br><br>END 3 | SAS 88, UTA 79 <a href="https://t.co/YSoY0RpZbc">pic.twitter.com/YSoY0RpZbc</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773180423125737972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="ZDv7KQ">Not only can he swish threes, he can also finish reverse layups! On the fastbreak, he finds himself leaking out for the wide-open finish.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">1️⃣7️⃣ points for Malaki <a href="https://t.co/EaB45RJCyt">pic.twitter.com/EaB45RJCyt</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773184693791346928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<div id="DEiQXM"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rWgI5i9vPI8?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="rKpC5a">Jeremy Sochan had a decent line of 17 points, nine rebounds, five steals, two assists, and a block.</p>
<p id="F1BfWF">Jeremy had a pair of triples, including this one near the end of the first quarter.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">off to a hot start <br><br>END 1 | SAS 29, UTA 15 <a href="https://t.co/d1Pe7DO7c5">pic.twitter.com/d1Pe7DO7c5</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773162378277847135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="BOUneN">The glass is your friend. Jeremy takes the feed from Blake Wesley and finishes the layup off the glass.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">toooo smooooth <a href="https://t.co/moddVKo47R">pic.twitter.com/moddVKo47R</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773168427894513721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="qsLSfP">Reminder: The glass is still your friend. This time Tre finds Jeremy with a no-look dime and Jeremy uses the glass again for the layup finish.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">that no look from Tre <a href="https://t.co/TpmZtVW9u7">pic.twitter.com/TpmZtVW9u7</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773175147630907849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="JbKnnK">Finally, here are the full game highlights.</p>
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https://www.poundingtherock.com/2024/3/28/24114503/an-all-around-team-performance-helped-the-spurs-defeat-jazzDanielSprague2024-03-28T08:10:39-05:002024-03-28T08:10:39-05:00Spurs draft prospects to watch in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16
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<img alt="NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament Second Round-Utah State at Purdue" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ItoMGB8zEDyzn7ecUn5nYPH5m1g=/0x0:3872x2581/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73238557/usa_today_22855436.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Potential Spurs draftees to check out in the Sweet 16.</p> <p id="zJGnl9">Is anyone else’s bracket busted? Outside of a few major first-round upsets like Oakland and Yale taking down the SEC’s best, the tournament has gone chalk. If you’re like me and predicted multiple double-digit seeds to make the Sweet 16, you’d be wrong. In fact, the final sixteen schools left are made up of top-50ish (<a href="https://www.backingthepack.com/">NC State</a> is 52) teams in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/1bn63j6/kenpom_and_the_sweet_16/">Kenpom rankings</a>.</p>
<p id="FwMvdR">There are still plenty of <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">NBA Draft</a> prospects in the tournament for <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com">San Antonio Spurs</a> fans to watch, despite early exits from the Kentucky guards and Colorado’s Cody Williams. Duke, <a href="https://www.theuconnblog.com">UCONN</a>, Tennessee and Marquette all feature intriguing players who could go anywhere from the lottery to the second round. Spurs fans should check out some exciting matchups in the next two days, and get a look at some players who could wear the Silver and Black one day.</p>
<p id="NEryE8">In this series, Pounding the Rock will look at NBA draft prospects to watch in each round of the NCAA Tournament. The Spurs have the possibility of getting two first-round picks (Toronto owes San Antonio a top-6 protected pick) and two second-round picks (their own, and another belonging to the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/"><strong>Los Angeles Lakers</strong></a>.)</p>
<h3 id="u9MFK6"><strong>Trey Alexander, 6’4” combo guard, Creighton</strong></h3>
<p id="N7p0Ip"><em>Regular season stats: 17.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.7 apg, 45.1%/33.5%/81.6% (51.0% EFG)</em></p>
<p id="9cKWpH">Creighton is one of my favorite teams to watch in the tournament. They have a big three comprising of Trey Alexander, Baylor Scheierman and Ryan Kalkbrenner. The junior guard, Alexander, has been one of their best players in the NCAA Tournament, scoring 19 and 20 points in their two wins. </p>
<p id="DjU9Hc">Alexander is a bigger combo guard who has steadily improved as a playmaker in his time with the Blue Jays. Last season many considered him to be a fringe first-round pick. Instead of declaring, he decided to go back to Creighton and improve his stock. That hasn’t necessarily happened in the way Alexander wanted it to. He’s scoring more, but his three-point percentage fell from 41% to 33.5%. He saw a big bump in usage (from 21.3 to 26.7,) so a drop in efficiency makes sense, but you’d still like to see the guard be able to efficiently handle a ball-dominant load. </p>
<p id="10tgsI">Alexander won’t be relied upon at the next level nearly as much as he is at Creighton. For San Antonio, Alexander profiles as a bench guard who has shown the potential to be a floor spacer. The Spurs need guards who can stretch the floor. As of right now, Tre Jones, Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley are all unreliable three-point shooters. If Alexanders shoots well in the tournament and pre-draft process, maybe San Antonio could talk itself into a second-round flier. </p>
<div id="0tEgo9"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LQoPFNTddfc?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div>
<h3 id="ilKKql"><strong>Alex Karaban, 6’8” wing, UCONN</strong></h3>
<p id="AorP7O"><em>Regular season stats: 13.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 50.1%/38.7%/87.5% (60.7% EFG)</em></p>
<p id="mKkWxG">The Spurs need shooters, and UCONN has some of the best in college basketball. Alex Karaban is a big wing who can nail threes from NBA range. The Huskies’ offense is designed to get their shooters moving and playing off one another. Karaban is smart at finding angles and running to his spots to find open threes off movement. NBA teams will be high on his basketball IQ and shooting. </p>
<p id="s0Pv02">Karaban has struggled to shoot it in the tournament thus far. He’s just 2-9 from deep in UCONN’s two games. If the Huskies want to repeat, they’ll need him to find his stroke.</p>
<p id="5essnw">Similar to guys like Dalton Knecht and Scheierman, the Spurs could see Karaban as a floor-spacing wing at the next level. He’ll likely be available for them in the second round where they have two draft picks. If San Antonio keeps both of those selections, drafting a shooter could provide them with some low-cost floor spacing. </p>
<div id="jblHoF"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k6yh7ju4F-I?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div>
<h3 id="DBwiJq"><strong>Zach Edey, 7’4” center, Purdue</strong></h3>
<p id="h4097W"><em>Regular season stats: 24.5 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 62.3%/50%/71.4% (62.4% EFG)</em></p>
<p id="ShMjvZ">I can see the comments now. This will be an unpopular pick, but how can you talk about the NCAA Tournament without mentioning its best player? Zach Edey is the biggest star of men’s college basketball and has dominated the field so far. He put up 30 points and 21 rebounds in the first round! </p>
<p id="2Tonek">There are questions about Edey’s fit in the NBA game. He’s slow and doesn’t space the floor. However, it’s hard to deny Edey’s presence in the college game. He’s strong, uses positioning well and is a good finisher. Some draft experts have him as a lottery pick, other have him in the second round. There are really no solid answers to Edey’s fit in the NBA – teams will just have to bet on talent. </p>
<p id="Inqwbe">... But could you imagine Edey and Victor Wembanyama playing together? Two 7’4” guys just wreaking havoc on the interior. Or if you don’t play them together, you can ensure you have a giant on the floor at all times. This likely isn’t a priority for the Spurs front office, but it sure is fun to think about for a second. </p>
<div id="LVRlK6"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7SYT3gtiYyQ?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div>
<h3 id="Fk2DVu"><strong>Tyler Kolek, 6’3” guard, Marquette</strong></h3>
<p id="0U5MOj"><em>Regular season stats: 15.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 7.9 apg, 49.7%/39.7%/85.4% (56.5% EFG)</em></p>
<p id="pemWZD">Intangibles can be an underrated aspect of a prospects appeal. It’s part of what makes Tyler Kolek such an interesting draft prospect. He’s had a great senior season at Marquette, and willed them to the Sweet 16 with a clutch performance against Colorado. The point guard got to the basket at will on his way to a 21 point and 11 assist performance.</p>
<p id="4XVWYL">Kolek is a strong, smart guard who lacks the explosion that most highly-coveted draft prospects have. He’s a steady three-point shooter and dynamic in the pick and roll. In fact, he might be the best pick and roll point guard in the 2024 draft class. If Marquette makes a run to the Final Four, it will be on Kolek’s back.</p>
<p id="VhPIwo">Kolek’s draft range seems to be late-first round to early-second round. If the Spurs don’t end up taking a point guard in the lottery, grabbing Kolek in the early second round could make some sense. He’s a player who has the intangibles to step into high pressure situations of the NBA right away, despite his lack of burst. This is another buy low guard who could provide the Spurs with some playmaking and floor spacing. </p>
<div id="g5aVZb"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I8wb2N0ubrU?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div>
<h3 id="Q6bxTD"></h3>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2024/3/28/24112922/san-antonio-spurs-nba-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-the-ncaa-tournaments-sweet-16-zach-edey-uconnJacob Douglas2024-03-28T06:00:00-05:002024-03-28T06:00:00-05:00Open Thread: Jeremy Sochan meets with one lucky fan
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<p>A viral video shows how an act of kindness changed one Spurs fan’s day </p> <p id="KcpdqS">Would you give away your last $3? </p>
<p id="ViqEgA">On St. Patrick’s Day, Joey, a self-proclaimed Spurs superfan in Austin, did just that.</p>
<p id="JkNrIQ">Watch the video on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4ysrPBPZpP/">HERE</a> or on TikTok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmydarts/video/7348937794783333663?lang=en">HERE</a>.</p>
<p id="sAJCHt">As you can see, Joey gave Jimmy Darts, a social media influencer known for random acts of kindness, $3 at the start of his shift as a valet.</p>
<p id="9Gz1cB">Jimmy, with the the help of Self Financial, the Official Credit Building App of the Spurs, rewarded Joey’s generosity with <strong>“</strong><em>the best day of his life.</em><strong>” </strong></p>
<p id="TYUiwq">Joey was treated to two courtside seats to the Spurs vs. Nets game that evening. He was also the recipient of a pre-game meeting with Jeremy Sochan. In addition, he was gifted a signed jersey and $1,000 in cash.</p>
<blockquote><p id="uYN7zg">Joey A dedicated Spurs fan (with the tattoo to prove it), he has been to 30+ games but has never been able to splurge on good seats. Joey is planning to use the cash he was gifted to pay his rent and bills, and enjoy a special anniversary dinner with his fiance. </p></blockquote>
<p id="ygVuc5">Just a little kindness can go a long way. And yet another example of how above and beyond the Spurs go to make their fans feel special.</p>
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<p id="4xI6b9">Welcome to <em>The Thread</em>. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/san-antonio-spurs"><strong>Spurs</strong></a> community, <em>your</em> Spurs community. Thanks for being here.</p>
<p id="1LqVy7"><em>Our </em><a href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/community-guidelines"><em><strong>community guidelines</strong></em></a><em> apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, do not troll and watch the language.</em></p>
<p id="wPCb37"></p>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2024/3/28/24113664/nba-san-antonio-spurs-jeremy-sochan-meets-with-one-lucky-fan-brooklyn-nets-austin-self-jimmy-dartsJeph Duarte2024-03-27T23:10:22-05:002024-03-27T23:10:22-05:00Spurs show impressive composure in win against the Jazz
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<img alt="NBA: San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ny54xK74AU3C86Y7UGyMOIHiUjI=/0x0:4366x2911/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73237921/usa_today_22885256.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Spurs’ momentum carried into Utah following an encouraging win vs the Suns. </p> <p id="Ye4ySf">Following a gutsy win against Phoenix without Wemby, the Spurs carried their momentum into Wednesday night’s matchup by recording a wire-to-wire victory vs the Jazz. </p>
<p id="3N6NVR">Still riding high from the previous game, the Spurs played composed basketball right from tip-off. On offense, they continuously swung the ball around to set up good shots. Wemby and Vassell had a number of two-man plays that flummoxed Utah’s defense, and San Antonio did a good job of crashing the boards to clean up their own misses as well. Defensively, the Spurs were even more impressive. Numerous Jazz players tested Wemby, leading to him blocking both Sexton and Collins. Surprisingly, San Antonio held strong even when the rookie checked out, as the Jazz ended with just 15 points in the first quarter. </p>
<p id="aBCQp9">With that said, Utah’s low scoring had as much to do with cold shooting as it did with the Spurs’ defense — the Jazz were still getting decent looks and missed multiple wide-open looks and dunk attempts. Unfortunately for San Antonio, that didn’t last long. The dam broke open when the home team went on a 16-2 run. With Wemby on the bench, Utah aggressively attacked the basket with their large Kessler-Markannen frontcourt, cutting the Spurs’ lead down to just four. San Antonio, though, regained their footing when the Frenchman checked back in. Wemby deterred shots around the rim and used his gravity as a roller to open up space for his teammates, leading to Vassell and Sochan hitting threes. </p>
<p id="e5YrQh">After an uneven start to the game, both teams were steadier the rest of the night. The Spurs consistently led by double digits as the two sides traded baskets, and every time Utah looked poised to go on a run, San Antonio would answer with a bucket of their own. Even so, it wouldn’t be a Spurs game without some sweaty palms down the stretch. The Jazz managed to cut the lead down to single digits multiple times in the final few minutes, including a deep three from Markannen that made it a two-possession game. </p>
<p id="LZWavT">Thankfully, Wemby and Vassell stepped up to the plate. The latter hit a number of big shots to maintain the Spurs’ lead, while the rookie made a block in the final seconds that sealed the game for the black and white. As a result, San Antonio has their first win streak in a month, and their young duo continues to show improved chemistry with each passing game. </p>
<h2 id="SRRFCT"><strong>Game notes</strong></h2>
<ul><li id="BX2egD">Wemby finished his night with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks. The most impressive part? He didn’t even look that noticeable — compared to his usual standards, that is. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe this alien, but something that still seems under-discussed is his mentality. Wemby absolutely has <em>it</em>, as he’ll never shrink when the lights are at their brightest. He saved his best defensive plays for the end of the game by racking up two blocks, and he always puts himself in the best position to succeed.</li></ul>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">BIG TIME BLOCK! <a href="https://t.co/VuG09lvj91">pic.twitter.com/VuG09lvj91</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773188172303798338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<ul><li id="Uiu36c">Vassell was equally as impactful Wednesday night, if not more so. The 23-year-old dropped 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists on 12-20 shooting and 4-8 from deep, and his shotmaking continues to impress. The most encouraging part of his game, though, has been his chemistry with Wemby. They’re now running more two-man action than ever , which makes both of their lives easier on offense.</li></ul>
<div id="vMhFQS">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">with AUTHORITY! <a href="https://t.co/ls8GnxpmjH">pic.twitter.com/ls8GnxpmjH</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773158463822008675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<ul>
<li id="YpwzEc">Champagnie and Branham had 17 points apiece on a combined 14-24 shooting. Neither will be a star, but there’s a big enough sample now to reasonably expect both to be solid role players now and in the future. Their hustle and athleticism will be extremely valuable for the team moving forward, and it’s always important to show some love to the under-the-radar players. </li>
<li id="hXWa4Z">This was one of the more composed games I’ve seen the Spurs play all season. Granted, that’s not high praise, but progress is still progress. They took their time generating better looks on offense without rushing and didn’t panic when things didn’t go their way on defense. San Antonio will never be mistaken as the most talented team, but they can be competitive on any given night if they can execute at a reasonable level and out-hustle their opponent. </li>
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<h2 id="cGX2IF"><strong>Play of the game</strong></h2>
<p id="6jFQad">The caption says it all. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="da" dir="ltr"> DEFENSE. OFFENSE. <a href="https://t.co/5qnqKPVGgM">pic.twitter.com/5qnqKPVGgM</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773165516368073075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<h2 id="u28NHj"><strong>Next game: vs Knicks on Friday</strong></h2>
<p id="w4kzcZ">Let’s see if the Spurs can make it three in a row against a tough Knicks team on Friday!</p>
<p id="o0rNg0"></p>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2024/3/27/24114181/spurs-show-impressive-composure-in-win-against-the-jazzBill Huan2024-03-27T22:36:21-05:002024-03-27T22:36:21-05:00San Antonio vs. Utah, Final Score: Spurs lead early and cruise to victory over Jazz, 118-111
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<img alt="NBA: San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/x0rBRcNz0O-JUPx-lqsIsu0ifPk=/0x0:3135x2090/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73237861/usa_today_22884576.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>No blown double-digit leads this time.</p> <p id="33sVfl">Fresh off a win against the Suns on Monday, the Spurs headed out on the road to take on a slumping Utah Jazz team. After a strong start that saw the Good Guys get out by as much as 19, the Jazz went on big a run in the second quarter to keep the game from getting away from them, but the Spurs recovered and kept them at arm’s length the rest of the way. staving off any comeback attempts and making their free throws down the stretch for the 118-111 win.</p>
<p id="53rg08">Devin Vassell led five Spurs in double figures with 31 points and 6 assists, while Victor Wembanyama had 19, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 blocks. Julian Champagnie (tying his career high), Jeremy Sochan and Cedi Osman all scored 17 points. Collin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen combined for 51 points to lead the Jazz.</p>
<h3 id="b4iSYO">Observations</h3>
<ul>
<li id="DjILRZ">If you recognize the names Brice Sensabaugh, Omer Yurtseven, or Micah Potter, congratulations: you know more than me. With players like Jordan Clarkson and Kris Dunn out and Will Hardy trying some new rotations, the Jazz seemed unrecognizable at times, including in their level of play for the first quarter and half. That changed a bit as Markkanen and Sexton woke up in the second quarter, but it still didn’t seem like the same Jazz team that smoked the Spurs a couple of times earlier in the season.</li>
<li id="OolEyR">Another old friend you may have forgotten was in Utah is Luka Samanic, who was appearing in his 36th game this season, averaging just 2.9 points in seven minutes per game. He got some time today, recording 5 rebounds in 10 minutes, and he still looks a player with upflashed potential, but he plays so passively and seems uninterested, just like we all remember him. It’s fair to wonder if he has any future left in the NBA.</li>
<li id="KdOJWZ">The Spurs had a real chance to pull away in the second quarter when they got out by as much as 19 before allowing the Jazz to go on a 16-2 run while they struggled through a turnover fest. Overall, the Spurs had a whopping 15 of them in the first half alone, and while they did recover enough to get the lead back to double-digits by halftime, it should have been a lot more, especially considering they hit ten threes. They were better in the second half with just six turnovers, which prevented the Jazz from going on another big run allowed them to maintain a relatively comfortable lead the rest of the way.</li>
<li id="a9GF7T">With Keldon Johnson out with a sore knee, the Spurs were going to need a team effort from the bench, and they got it. Malaki Branham had his best game in weeks, hitting timely baskets and shooting 3-5 from three, and Cedi Osmanhad 9 points on a 3-3 night from three. Overall, the Spurs shot 16-33 from three after hitting just 24% of them over the last three games.</li>
<li id="8RURNo">Wemby became the first rookie since Shaq to surpass 300 stocks (steals + blocks). Considering Shaq had 346, Wemby certainly has a chance to catch him across the final nine games of the season.</li>
<li id="diQ1az">Just going to leave this here because it’s funny.</li>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">hey...that's not the <a href="https://twitter.com/SpursCoyote?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpursCoyote</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PorVida?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PorVida</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Spurs</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BallySports</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z4RKQXwF2d">pic.twitter.com/Z4RKQXwF2d</a></p>— Bally Sports San Antonio (@BallySportsSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportsSA/status/1773153126595379501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="kSw1ht">The Spurs will head right back to San Antonio to take on the New York Knicks on Friday. Tip-off will be at 7:00 PM CT on Bally Sports.</p>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2024/3/27/24114174/san-antonio-vs-utah-final-score-spurs-lead-early-and-cruise-to-victory-over-jazz-118-111Marilyn Dubinski2024-03-27T19:30:00-05:002024-03-27T19:30:00-05:00Game Thread: San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz
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<img alt="San Antonio Spurs v Utah Jazz" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NAYZP0s8NS_JUHg1mqttn1klfpI=/5x0:4477x2981/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73237676/2031361000.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>With just ten games remaining, the Spurs are looking to finish the season on a positive note</p> <p id="meJqIh"><em>Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our </em><a href="http://www.poundingtherock.com/community-guidelines"><em><strong>community guidelines</strong></em></a><em> apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. </em></p>
<p id="PQBDTM">Victor Wembanyama is questionable to play tonight, but the scrappy Spurs showed that you can’t take a win against them for granted on Tuesday, when they won a hard-fought 104-102 victory against the Suns without their rookie phenom. Devin Vassell is showing promise as a reliable scorer, and Jeremy Sochan is a Polish Army Knife on both ends of the course. (That’s like a Swiss Army Knife, but with more flair.)</p>
<p id="mgMBB5">Lauri Markkanen has been a Finnish terror for the Jazz in the previous contests against the Silver and Black, and the Spurs will have to do a better job of containing him to have a chance at winning tonight. The matchup between Collin Sexton and Tre Jones should be interesting to watch, as Tre can use his quickness to match up against him well on defense. Look for another good game from Zach Collins, who seems to step up his game whenever he has to start in Victor’s place. </p>
<p id="dG9JxN">A road win against the Jazz would be another treat for the fans after Tuesday’s upset of Phoenix, but at this point in the season, all we really want to see is some good basketball and players improving their games. Let’s watch tonight and see if it happens. I bet we see some, but how much we get is anybody’s guess.</p>
<h4 id="CnxjVi"><strong>Game Prediction:</strong></h4>
<p id="CJRhrS"> Malaki Branham will earn the nickname ‘Snoopy’ for how much time he spends in Pop’s doghouse. </p>
<p id="a9tneh"><strong>One final word:</strong></p>
<p id="nFTExA">Go Spurs GOOOOOO!! </p>
<h3 id="Ic8xi7">
<strong>San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz</strong><br><strong>March 27, 2024 | 8:00 PM CT</strong><br><strong>Streaming:</strong> NBA League Pass<br><strong>TV: Bally Sports SW</strong>
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<p id="TVC2BF"><strong>Reminder: </strong>It is <strong>against site policy to post links to illegal streams</strong> in the comments, but it is not against site policy to exchange email addresses, for instance. </p>
https://www.poundingtherock.com/2024/3/27/24113769/its-time-for-basketball-spurs-at-jazzMark Barrington2024-03-27T18:48:42-05:002024-03-27T18:48:42-05:00How Victor Wembanyama can improve his offensive game
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<img alt="Phoenix Suns v San Antonio Spurs" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tJmS8flyLzYblprsGJ7fRI2L_W4=/0x614:3592x3009/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73237626/2100347972.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photos by David DowNBAE via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Despite achieving success averaging over 20 points per game, the rookie’s post-up game can still improve. </p> <p id="EuTSNX">In his inaugural season, Victor Wembanyama has captured the attention of the basketball world, showcasing his ability to score from virtually anywhere on the court. Despite his towering stature, Wembanyama has displayed an impressive shooting range, attempting more pull-up three-pointers than any centers in the league.</p>
<div id="kdc2dM">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Leaders in stepback 3PA among centers this season…<br><br>What stands out? <a href="https://t.co/g8ZSsZ3lB0">pic.twitter.com/g8ZSsZ3lB0</a></p>— NBA University (@NBA_University) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA_University/status/1773002452901478524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a>
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<p id="VWf0Af">However, despite standing at an imposing 7 feet 4 inches with an exceptionally long wingspan, the rookie has yet to assert his dominance in the low-post game. His statistics reveal a notable absence from the top 10 in post-up possessions per game, averaging a mere 3.2 touches. This pales in comparison to the league leader, Joel Embiid, who commands an average of 6.1 touches per game in the post. Furthermore, Wembanyama’s <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/playtype-post-up">conversion rate</a> of 47.7% from this area falls short of the elite echelon.</p>
<p id="l5rv1z">This deficiency in post-up play is an aspect of his game that the rookie must address and improve upon. It’s worth noting that his limited impact in this area could be attributed, in part, to the quality of his supporting cast. Additionally, Wembanyama entered the NBA with a physique lighter than most of his center counterparts, which could have impacted his ability to establish a dominant presence.</p>
<p id="FLnAgi">Looking ahead, with potential roster enhancements and a full offseason dedicated to refining his physique and skill set, expectations are high for Wembanyama to make significant strides. With a more efficient post-up game, Wemby could become even more dangerous offensively in his sophomore season. </p>
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<p id="iKHvsP">Earlier in the season, the Dallas Mavericks had devised practice drills aimed at emulating Wemby’s shot-blocking abilities. However, it seems this particular opponent has discovered a more effective strategy, effortlessly launching high rainbows! </p>
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<p id="BzHjpw">While I may not be an expert in this arena, according to Vegas, the outcome seems all but certain, with Victor Wembanyama being the overwhelming favorite. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Amen hops back in the race <a href="https://twitter.com/Kia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Kia</a> Rookie Ladder: <a href="https://t.co/VTsrk77uLm">https://t.co/VTsrk77uLm</a> <a href="https://t.co/2WLOCUtrvJ">pic.twitter.com/2WLOCUtrvJ</a></p>— NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1773043883150074241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a>
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<p id="re8t2J">It appears we have gained a new addition to the Spurs’ fanbase! </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">@ Gen Z can you confirm plz <a href="https://t.co/peVjVv6NG1">pic.twitter.com/peVjVv6NG1</a></p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1773046361845334148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a>
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https://www.poundingtherock.com/2024/3/27/24114122/how-victor-wembanyama-can-improve-his-offensive-gameMikey Rouleau