Copy/paste that bronze medal meme of man overly celebrating, kissing a girl, and popping champagne regardless of coming in third, whereas the gold and silver medalists stare at him in confusion. Copy/paste the climatic scene in Silver Linings Playbook when Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence rejoice a median rating of 5 (out of 10) whereas everybody else within the native Philadelphia dance corridor stares in confusion. Copy/paste the climatic scene in Highlander when Connor MacLeod defeats his rival and absorbs his energy.
Why the “Princes of the Universe” (Queen, 1986) reference? By defeating the Lakers and defeating their franchise-high shedding streak, I imagine the Spurs have the fitting to assert LeBron James’s hard-earned In-Season Match trophy just like the immortal Christopher Lambert claimed Clancy Brown’s powers. Positive that will appear ridiculous, however what’s extra ridiculous is that Sean Connery (a Scottish actor) performed a swordsman from Spain in a film that takes place in Scotland!
Hopefully this win will not be the spotlight of the younger Spurs’ season, nevertheless it’s the spotlight of our Friday night time. Devin Vassell led all gamers with a career-high 36 factors. He went 5 – 10 from downtown and was good from the free throw line. Keldon Johnson contributed 17 factors whereas Victor Wembanyama notched a double-double with 12 factors and 15 rebounds.
The Spurs have been ready for a signature Devin Vassell recreation, and he couldn’t have picked a greater recreation than on Friday night time to bust the workforce out of its hibernation. Vassell was NBA Jamming as his 12 – 19 capturing was merely en fuego.
Vassell’s breakout season remains to be very a lot on the desk, and the Spurs and Spurs followers alike will welcome extra video games like this one towards the Lakers the place he led the cost and led the workforce to victory.
Did the Spurs win the NBA title? No. Did they win the In-Season Match that the media (the “media”) and scores specialists (“specialists”) are attempting to persuade me is uber vital? No. Did they win for the primary time since November 2, 2023, which coincidentally was the sport that I wrote a highlights article for PtR? Sure. So excuse me if I can’t hear you over the glee of Victor’s hype fest on the Frost Heart.
On this play, Wembanyama made some jam with this candy marmalade of a flush on the rim. His footwork, quickness, and tenacity continues to amaze. And fairly frankly, it’s infectious. You’ll be able to really feel the house crowd feed off his vitality.
Vassell’s candy strikes on this poetic turnaround jumper was a factor of magnificence. Name me an previous man who loves his old fashioned basketball and nonetheless has cable tv, however I do like a very good old school put up transfer.
Talking of put up strikes, Zach Collins confirmed off his expertise down low with this nifty bucket within the paint. Collins had 16 factors and 6 rebounds in virtually 19 minutes of play off the bench. In 4 video games of the Wembanyama heart experiment, Collins had his finest recreation off the bench. Going ahead, the previous tenth general choose will look to proceed to supply a lift as the primary huge to come back off the bench.
At all times the beastly bull. By no means the awkward aardvark. Keldon Johnson rams his strategy to a well-earned bucket to the euphoria of the house crowd. Johnson has been a gentle supply of factors, offering not less than 20 in 3 of the final 5 video games.
On this sequence, Wembanyama confirmed off his passing expertise with a pleasant feed to Jeremy Sochan for the fast two. The rookie phenom was extra of a distributor this recreation with 5 dimes, and his earlier career-high of seven assists counsel there’s loads of room for enchancment on his play-making talents along with his plentiful bag of basketball expertise.
What I respect most about Wembanyama is that he might end most baskets with out leaving his ft. However he finishes robust on the bucket, which speaks to his aggressive mentality and the actual fact he doesn’t take any play with no consideration. Whereas factors would possibly come naturally for hims on some nights, the hassle is all the time there.
This lovely transition sequence churning protection into buttery easy offense ought to all the time be on the menu. KJ’s contact cross again to Sochan is really a chef’s kiss of a end.
For those who missed the sport since you had been too busy reminiscing concerning the golden age of tv exhibits like Highlander: The Sequence, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, and Xena: Warrior Princess; listed here are the full-game highlights:
Subsequent up, the Spurs stay at dwelling for a match-up towards the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, December 17, 2023.
