Is Chris Paul & Victor Wembanyama a bad pairing for the Spurs? | The Kevin O’Connor Show
Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor and contributing writer Tom Haberstroh dive into the duo’s early performance in San Antonio and how the point guard’s arrival has impacted the second year star’s approach on offense. Hear the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
I don't like the Chris Paul fit in San Antonio.
I'm not a fan of it so far.
I was looking at the pace stats on unpredictable.com last season.
The Spurs played at the fifth fastest tempo after made shots the third quickest tempo after rebounds, the fifth quickest tempo after turnovers this season that has dropped to 17th after makes 19th after rebounds 27th after turnovers.
And who is the reason for that?
It is of course the point guard Chris Paul who notoriously throughout his career slows things down to his pace and I don't like the way that has affected Victor Wemba Yama where 45% of his shots are now coming from three up from 33% last year.
Only 28% of his shots are coming at the rim down from 33% last year.
Chris Paul affects two thumbs down, Tom Haverstraw.
What do you think?
I think something has to change in San Antonio when it comes to wem be.
This guy is 7 ft five and is a walking dunk every time he steps out on the floor and Chris Paul was supposed to deliver more alley oops more lobs to victor Wemba Yama, whether it's because of the style of play and the pace that you're describing or if it's just a mentality from WEM be, he's too nice.
I'm gonna go ahead and say it.
He needs to be more of a, you look at his shot profile.
He's taking more threes than he did last year.
Like you noted 6.93 pointers per game.
His points per shot on a three pointer is 0.7.
His points per shot on a non RM two.
So everything outside the basket is 0.7.
Ok, he's taking 4/4 of those per game.
So between non rim twos and threes, taking 11 of those shots at 0.7 points per shot, then you look at the rim.
The dude is shooting 75% at the rim.
He's taking 4.8 shots at the rim this year.
So that's an average, an average point per shot of 1.5 and the other shots which he's taking twice as many of or at 0.7 that imbalance needs to be corrected.
It might have something to do with Chris Paul running the offense and slowing things down.
But to me, he's gotta be more nasty out there.
He's got to go in there.
I know Kendrick Perkins, we laugh like some of the things that he says, but he's right.
He needs to stop thinking he's Kevin Durant and think more like He's Giannis.