SAN ANTONIO — With 60 seconds remaining and Game 1 of the NBA Finals hanging in the balance, the ball naturally rested in Victor Wembanyama's massive hands.
Matched up with Karl-Anthony Towns on the right wing, with his evening mileage creeping on 40 grueling minutes and offensive struggles dominating his debut, the logistics weren't in his favor. Still, he pressed on. He had to.
In Wembanyama's mind, he knew where he wanted to go, the desired angle to attack Towns. Previous possessions involving the alien and unicorn had shown the possibility of production. But at that moment, as he put the ball on the ground and began his charge, his body had other plans. Wembanyama lost control, the consummation of fatigue from a system that had channeled all of its efforts through his limbs against a smart, physical Knicks team. Josh Hart, who had bested the Frenchman on multiple occasions Wednesday evening from an energy standpoint, pounced on the opportunity, spawning a fast break, a Jalen Brunson dagger and a knockout punch.
"I'm going to figure it out," Wembanyama said following the 105-95 loss. "Yeah, I mean, I was bad tonight. It's not more complicated than that. … I think we let that one go."
Given that the postseason — much less the NBA Finals — is more or less an expanded chess match, and how Towns' new, expanded offensive role as a hub had fundamentally changed New York's playoff path, attempting to throw a wrench in those plans seemed like an adequate first move for the Spurs.
Matched up with Karl-Anthony Towns on the right wing, with his evening mileage creeping on 40 grueling minutes and offensive struggles dominating his debut, the logistics weren't in his favor. Still, he pressed on. He had to.
In Wembanyama's mind, he knew where he wanted to go, the desired angle to attack Towns. Previous possessions involving the alien and unicorn had shown the possibility of production. But at that moment, as he put the ball on the ground and began his charge, his body had other plans. Wembanyama lost control, the consummation of fatigue from a system that had channeled all of its efforts through his limbs against a smart, physical Knicks team. Josh Hart, who had bested the Frenchman on multiple occasions Wednesday evening from an energy standpoint, pounced on the opportunity, spawning a fast break, a Jalen Brunson dagger and a knockout punch.
"I'm going to figure it out," Wembanyama said following the 105-95 loss. "Yeah, I mean, I was bad tonight. It's not more complicated than that. … I think we let that one go."
Given that the postseason — much less the NBA Finals — is more or less an expanded chess match, and how Towns' new, expanded offensive role as a hub had fundamentally changed New York's playoff path, attempting to throw a wrench in those plans seemed like an adequate first move for the Spurs.
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