The San Antonio Spurs are facing tough questions about their shot selection, especially when it matters most! Following a nail-biting 111-106 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, a moment of contention arose regarding rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama's decision to take a three-pointer with just 27 seconds left on the clock and the Spurs trailing. This has sparked a debate about whether that was the right play call for their generational talent.
But here's where it gets interesting... When asked about Wembanyama's late-game three-point attempt, coach Mitch Johnson offered a nuanced perspective. He explained that it was indeed one of the options on the play, where Wembanyama could either take the shot off a screen or drive to the basket for a closer look. "I didn't get a good enough look at it to probably give an advanced or a super deep explanation or thought on that," Johnson admitted, suggesting that the execution of the play might have been more the issue than the initial design.
And this is the part most people miss... The Spurs didn't have their best outing from their star player. Wembanyama finished with 16 points, notably without a single block and only one assist, while also being out-rebounded by a significant margin of 15 boards. Johnson acknowledged the team's overall disappointment, stating, "It was disappointing for sure." He pointed out that while Charlotte played well, the Spurs had moments of success, winning three out of the four quarters. The key, he emphasized, is to maintain that level of play for the entire 48 minutes.
The loss dropped the Spurs to a sub-500 record against the Hornets, who are now 22-28 and fighting for a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. Johnson was candid about what went wrong, particularly in the second quarter where the Spurs were outscored 35-17. He attributed it to a "little bit of everything," specifically calling out their defensive discipline. He highlighted that the team struggled with guarding multiple actions and lost connection, especially in transition, which allowed players like Brandon Miller to score a game-high 26 points.
Johnson also reiterated a recurring issue for his squad: "The offense took some tough shots; turnovers." He underscored the critical nature of those poor quarters, stating, "You win three quarters out of four and still lose the game, that means you had a quarter that obviously had multiple things not going well."
Now, here's a quirky detail: The game itself had an unusual start time. Due to severe weather expected in Charlotte, the game was moved up by three hours, kicking off at noon local time, which was 11 am for the Spurs. This was the first game this season for San Antonio that started before noon Central Standard Time. However, Johnson downplayed its impact, saying, "I don't think it had much effect to do with the game."
But here's a real kicker: The Spurs are now in a bit of a bind. Following the game, they are forced to spend the night in Charlotte due to snowstorms preventing their return to San Antonio. This adds another layer of challenge as they prepare for their next game.
What do you think? Was Victor Wembanyama's late-game three-pointer the right call, or should he have looked for a different option? Should the Spurs focus more on consistent play throughout the entire game, or are there deeper issues at hand? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – we'd love to hear your take!
