Pictures / Videos of Missed Wemby Lobs

[z0sa]

NBA is a business. If Vassell thinks he's still the man after going down with injury which caused us to get Wemby, well, good luck to him wherever he's headed out to.

[toki9]

So here's a link to the play, in case one hasn't been provided: https://youtu.be/2DxWiZV1CVs?t=466





So this is a different situation than what I was thinking of. Vassell should've known Victor was going to be open, because that looks like it's the point of the play. So the read-and-react part shouldn't really factor into the time. I do think Vassell called his own number and took a shot that had a lower percentage of success than the pass would have -- even factoring in the caveats I said before. IF the play was supposed to be for Vassell, it's fine that he took the shot, both because of the timing and because he's the team's closer. IF the play was for Wemby as I suggested, then it's really bad he took that shot, bad enough to have knock on effects. It may or may not bother Wemby too much, but it would certainly bother Pop that Vassell showed an unwillingness to execute a play. Devin may not find himself with the ball in his hands in that situation the next time.

So I do admit I was wrong. I actually didn't think this conversation was about the end-of-game scenario, but a different play earlier in the second half that Sean commented on during the game. So I fully understand why folks are concerned in this thread. I'm not going to edit the response to poopbox, because I think it's fair for people to see the context of this post. I don't see there being a huge interpersonal issue here like some are fearing, but I do think it's going to make Pop's job harder if the players don't listen when he does try to intervene.

I think the play was to inbound to Tre and then Tre decides on Vic or Vassell as the better option. But Tre got pushed/fouled so it got triggered to Vassell instead.

Also, a minor quibble on various people’s comments on how Vic didn’t take a shot in the last 7 minutes (I think they’re just going off based on Don Harris’ tweets) but Victor sat from 6:20 to 4:11, so that’s a part of it. And he had a couple of touches right away after he entered. The first offensive sequence following his return was a post-up, which resulted in a turnover. The there was high DHO sequence in which Vic passed it to driving Sochan that turned into 2 FT, and then another post-up sequence in which Vic passed to driving Vassell that resulted in 2 FT. So it’s little misleading to imply that he was ignored for the last 7 minutes. Sure, they could have done a better job, but it wasn’t as dire as that Harris’ tweet implied.

[poopbox]

This suggests you don't understand how a shot clock works. Vassell only needs to get the ball out of his hands in three seconds. It doesn't have to make it to the rim. A pass to the rim DOES have to be caught and out of the players hands before the clock expires. The gap in time that takes is massive.



You'd think by now people would realize this isn't true. Wemby has a wider catch radius than normal. He doesn't have as wide of one as people want to believe. He still needs good passes, ESPECIALLY when he doesn't have time to land, survey and shoot. It wouldn't surprise me at all if nearly half of the Spurs' turnovers every game come from Wemby or from his teammates trying to pass him the ball. Quite a few attempted lobs last night ended up deflected precisely because teams are adjusting to guard them. Given time and development, Wemby's ability to make contested catches and finish against pressure will increase along with his teammate's ability to hit that sweet spot where Victor is the only player who can catch it. But that takes real development. As I said, this has been such a minor issue that no one talked about it for a month, so the idea that it's a systemic issue doesn't hold water anymore.

I disagree completely with this take. And while you are correct that the team does turn the ball over a surprising amount when trying to throw him lobs...it's because those passes are not even close, and I feel like they are not even close because they are trying to throw Victor an accurate pass, which they can't do...because outside of Tre all of our guards are completely horrific at passing. Devin legit cannot even consistently throw an entry pass. If they would take the Tre Jones approach, and just toss the ball around the rim, we would convert on way more on those play's and it would force a lot more fouls, since it becomes noticeable when Victor is jumping toward the rim through contact instead of jumping in the air in general trying to catch some pass that is somehow behind him. All non Tre guards also for some reason wait until Victor is just directly under the basket to throw him the ball, where the defense has loaded up on him by then, but that's another story.

That is what my perception of what Tre actually does when tossing lobs to Victor, he just tosses it right around the rim, he doesn't actually throw the pass to Victor. If you look at some of the highlights sometimes Victor isn't even on his second step before Tre has already lobbed the ball. He has lobbed it to him when Victor was outside the 3 point line.

[rjv]

I think the play was to inbound to Tre and then Tre decides on Vic or Vassell as the better option. But Tre got pushed/fouled so it got triggered to Vassell instead.

Also, a minor quibble on various people’s comments on how Vic didn’t take a shot in the last 7 minutes (I think they’re just going off based on Don Harris’ tweets) but Victor sat from 6:20 to 4:11, so that’s a part of it. And he had a couple of touches right away after he entered. The first offensive sequence following his return was a post-up, which resulted in a turnover. The there was high DHO sequence in which Vic passed it to driving Sochan that turned into 2 FT, and then another post-up sequence in which Vic passed to driving Vassell that resulted in 2 FT. So it’s little misleading to imply that he was ignored for the last 7 minutes. Sure, they could have done a better job, but it wasn’t as dire as that Harris’ tweet implied.

first of all, anything Don Harris tweets is pretty much a clue, right off the bat, that it’s gonna be full of sh*t.

[MultiTroll]

Vassell didn't get anywhere near a max contract, assuming every team has place for 2, he'd be more Catwoman than Robin,

Good one.

Btw when will Vassell trim that Tweedle Dee hairtop?
Wonder if there is a risk of it getting caught in the netting.

[toki9]

first of all, anything Don Harris tweets is pretty much a clue, right off the bat, that it’s gonna be full of sh*t.

Does he have poor reputation in San Antonio? I don't live there, so no idea.

[MultiTroll]

So here's a link to the play, in case one hasn't been provided: https://youtu.be/2DxWiZV1CVs?t=466

So it’s little misleading to imply that he was ignored for the last 7 minutes. Sure, they could have done a better job, but it wasn’t as dire as that Harris’ tweet implied.

Or was it as dire?
Good on all points you made.
However, even with Harris leaving out the key points you made....

Chucky Vassell in one freaking possession 3 misses, zero assists, zero attempts to assist.

107 - 106 sequence
310 left
Spurs rebound Zion miss
1 Chucky Vassell immediate catch n shoot 27 feet, Misses w 20 on clock. Spurs rebound.
2. Trey Jones wide open brick w 13 on clock. Decent shot attempt as middle was clogged. Spurs rebound.
3 Chucky Vassell gets swing pass, catches, 4 dribbles to midrange brick w 10 on clock.
Spurs get fortunate out of bounds
4 Chucky gets inbounds pass 14 on clock. No dribble, guared so does turnaround chuck with 13 on clock.

[My Fault]

half your posts in the last half decade must be about me at this point buddy

You post like a teenage girl

[toki9]

Or was it as dire?
Good on all points you made.
However, even with Harris leaving out the key points you made....

Chucky Vassell in one freaking possession 3 misses, zero assists, zero attempts to assist.

107 - 106 sequence
310 left
Spurs rebound Zion miss
1 Chucky Vassell immediate catch n shoot 27 feet, Misses w 20 on clock. Spurs rebound.
2. Trey Jones wide open brick w 13 on clock. Decent shot attempt as middle was clogged. Spurs rebound.
3 Chucky Vassell gets swing pass, catches, 4 dribbles to midrange brick w 10 on clock.
Spurs get fortunate out of bounds
4 Chucky gets inbounds pass 14 on clock. No dribble, guared so does turnaround chuck with 13 on clock.

Yeah, that was an obviously bad sequences. I actually thought the sequence from 3:07 to 2:40 was worse, where the players threw passes around like hot potato, and completely missing Wemby in the middle. Like I said, they could have done a better job, but it wasn't a 7-minute blackhole sequence.

One of the things that Pop said long ago was that Kawhi really turned the corner when Kawhi understood that whenever he was told that they needed a bucket, it was the team that needed to get that bucket and not necessarily Kawhi. It'll probably take them a while to get there.

[MultiTroll]

Yeah, that was an obviously bad sequences. I actually thought the sequence from 3:07 to 2:40 was worse, where the players threw passes around like hot potato, and completely missing Wemby in the middle. Like I said, they could have done a better job, but it wasn't a 7-minute blackhole sequence.

We're talking about the same sequence.
Mine starts with "3:10 left"

[toki9]

We're talking about the same sequence.

Then we agree. ;-) I wasn't sure what you meant by "107 - 106" sequence. But, yes, that was pretty egregiously bad. i thought you were talking about the sequence just under 1 minute where Tre repeatedly penetrated with trailing Victor.

[toki9]

We're talking about the same sequence.
Mine starts with "3:10 left"

Sorry, I didn't know what you meant by 107 - 106 sequence / 310 left. I thought you were talking about the sequence around 1 minute mark--which wasn't what you described.

[MultiTroll]

^ Score 107-106

We agree that was a doozy of a minute or two.

[TekXX]

It's actually astounding that a member of the San Antonio sports media dares to critique a Spur or anyone involved with the Spurs. Kudos to Harris

[toki9]

^ Score 107-106

We agree that was a doozy of a minute or two.

Ah, OK.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Does he have poor reputation in San Antonio? I don't live there, so no idea.

Don thinks that he is a patrician and the rabble or plebes. Simmons is the approachable one. They all have more access than any mouth breather around here.

[toki9]

Don thinks that he is a patrician and the rabble or plebes. Simmons is the approachable one. They all have more access than any mouth breather around here.

Got it. Thanks for the context. Some of the nuances get lost to us out-of-towners here.

[TekXX]

Don thinks that he is a patrician and the rabble or plebes. Simmons is the approachable one. They all have more access than any mouth breather around here.

Simmons? Wasn't he fired?

[Tyronn Lue]

Vassell didn't get anywhere near a max contract, assuming every team has place for 2, he'd be more Catwoman than Robin, let alone Batman. If he has problems acknowledging that going forward, he can always be a nice piece of an outgoing package for someone who gets it.

Now convince Pop.

[Tyronn Lue]

This suggests you don't understand how a shot clock works. Vassell only needs to get the ball out of his hands in three seconds. It doesn't have to make it to the rim. A pass to the rim DOES have to be caught and out of the players hands before the clock expires. The gap in time that takes is massive.



You'd think by now people would realize this isn't true. Wemby has a wider catch radius than normal. He doesn't have as wide of one as people want to believe. He still needs good passes, ESPECIALLY when he doesn't have time to land, survey and shoot. It wouldn't surprise me at all if nearly half of the Spurs' turnovers every game come from Wemby or from his teammates trying to pass him the ball. Quite a few attempted lobs last night ended up deflected precisely because teams are adjusting to guard them. Given time and development, Wemby's ability to make contested catches and finish against pressure will increase along with his teammate's ability to hit that sweet spot where Victor is the only player who can catch it. But that takes real development. As I said, this has been such a minor issue that no one talked about it for a month, so the idea that it's a systemic issue doesn't hold water anymore.

eh never mind.

[z0sa]

For the dumbasses who think Wemby wasn't wide the open, is this a bad pass/he's totally covered and has no chance at it, right? Definitely won't just go straight up and dunk it, correct?



(PS this is the image I'm using from now on when the low IQ crowd says Wemby isn't open)

[stnick2261]

I was firmly in the camp that Vassell and Wemby would be 2 of the next Big 3... but after this, I'm in the camp of trading Vassell for 2025-2026 draft picks.

[JeffDuncan]

…

That is what my perception of what Tre actually does when tossing lobs to Victor, he just tosses it right around the rim, he doesn't actually throw the pass to Victor. If you look at some of the highlights sometimes Victor isn't even on his second step before Tre has already lobbed the ball. …

That’s correct, about how it should be done. A lob should be thrown in relation to the basket. You take it for granted the receiver will be moving towards the basket, of course.

It’s possible to practice lob passes by yourself in an empty gym, strangely enough. Stand at various distances, and various angles, and throw an overhead two-handed pass so it bounces off the backboard beside the basket. Also the same kind of thing one handed, off the dribble, etc. (Just don’t use your regular shooting motion to practice lobs.)