Good resolutions didn't wait until 2025 in San Antonio: the Spurs beat the Clippers with great mastery and a large margin (122-86), last night on the last evening of the year 2024. They were led by an almost perfect Victor Wembanyama, unstoppable in the racket, however less effective from afar (1/6). With 27 points, including 17 scored in the first quarter, Wemby finished as the game's top scorer. His 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks mark a high-level encounter, especially since these statistics were achieved in just 26 minutes, the Frenchman joining the bench 8 minutes from the end, the score being acquired.
“It’s crazy how spectacular his simplicity is,” describes Spurs coach Mitch Johnson. It's quite a combination to see this young man who is both disciplined and down to earth but also blessed with quite crazy imagination and creativity. His ability to understand and apply everything is truly special. » Victor Wembanyama notably scored a lot from mid-distance, and his ability to be simple is almost new. “We keep telling him: keep it simple!” emphasizes Chris Paul. But there are times when he does his own thing and you say: well, ok… It's obviously difficult to imagine what it's like to be that big and have that much ability at the same time. Everyone forgets that it's only his second year. Enjoy the progress! »
Wemby agrees: “I have to be able to not miss the simple things,” he says. The great players deliver on the fundamentals. I haven't completely mastered them yet. (Mitch) is right when he talks about simplicity. Who cares about highlights? Well, some people are interested in it, but not us. We only care about the results, the victories, the defeats. And in the long term, you don't fail if you're good at the fundamentals. »
December was an excellent month for the Frenchman, averaging 30 points per game in his last eight games. Particularly because he increasingly finds the shooting positions where he feels most comfortable. “I have to trust my instincts,” he continues. Madness happens on its own, I don't need to force it. What I need to provoke a little is what is less natural in me, certain fundamentals in particular. »
The show with Chris Paul
From the start of the match, we understand that Victor Wembanyama is determined to secure the score as quickly as possible, and not to go and wake up early, against a weakened Los Angeles team, which had played the day before. The experienced Clippers pivot Ivica Zubac quickly becomes acquainted with the Frenchman's counter quality. Then Wemby followed up with a three-pointer, his only one of the evening, before putting on a show, including a one-two with Jeremy Sochan for a spectacular alley-oop. Opposite, only James Harden holds up the comparison for a while (13 points in the first quarter).
During the second quarter, Victor Wembanyama played a mischievous trick on the Frenchman opposite, Nicolas Batum, by erasing him with a feint. His teammate in Blue prevents him from scoring… by making a mistake. Then Wemby has fun: on a block, he asks Chris Paul, ball in hand, to throw him the ball against the board. Successful basket and big smile on the Frenchman's face. “I'm not trying to show off, but I'm constantly trying to find new ways to improve my game,” points out Victor Wembanyama. I have to find my way through defenses that adapt, and I'm not afraid of originality. »
“What impresses me most about Victor is the way he understands how opposing teams are going to defend on him,” analyzes his rookie teammate Stephon Castle. Opponents hardly put big players against him anymore, they try to bother him on the ground with smaller players. And he knows how to adapt perfectly. »
“We are in a very tough Conference
The Texans quickly took the lead, even if the Clippers seemed, at one point, to have found the solution in the face of Wembanyama's incredible blocking quality: Norman Powell, in particular, pretended to attack the basket before drawing a passes for Zubac, who can score quietly. “He makes matches so easy for us,” says Chris Paul. I even tend to already take it for granted. His defense, his counterattacks: I've never seen anything like that. He has faced some great defenders this season but he always finds a solution. »
Twenty points ahead at half-time: San Antonio is in control and the second half will only be a formality. Opposite, within a team which visibly had its mind elsewhere, Nicolas Batum played little (3 rebounds and 0 points in 12 minutes). Sidy Cissoko took advantage of a game without suspense to grab a few minutes (2 points and 1 assist in 5 minutes). The Spurs pocket their 17th victory of the season (for 16 defeats). After the match, Chris Paul pretends not to know much. “What is our balance sheet? », he asks. Victor Wembanyama knows this perfectly.
“I looked at the rankings in the morning, and after 3 away defeats, we were barely in the play-in zone,” he notes. We are in a very tough Conference, we have to fight every night. I am proud of our record. » He is then asked what we can wish for him for 2025. “Happiness, health… and the play-offs”, he ends up saying with a big smile. It was said with a smile, but it still seemed a bit like a resolution.
