Victor Wembanyama looked tired. And understandably so. Game 2 will mark his ninth game in 19 days.
That is a more frenetic pace than is often realized, and this is Wembanyama’s first playoff run, as it is for nearly all of this young San Antonio Spurs’ roster.
But desperation can overcome fatigue. These Victor Wembanyama picks expect a balance of the two for both Wemby and the Spurs in Game 2 against the New York Knicks on Friday, June 5.
Victor Wembanyama prop pick for Game 2
Victor Wembanyama best bet: Over 3.5 assists (+120 at bet365)
Maybe the New York Knicks’ defense is truly this good. Maybe it has found some secret this postseason that no team has ever before enjoyed. Maybe.
In the last 12 games, New York has held opponents to 28.8% from deep while forcing those foes to pull up from long range on 46.5% of their shots.
Suffice it to say, the Knicks' defense deserves a bounty of credit, but at some point, an opponent will hit more shots.
There is only one opponent left. The San Antonio Spurs went a gruesome 11-of-43 (25.6%) from deep on Wednesday. Remove Julian Champagnie’s 5-of-10 and the rest of the Spurs hit 18.2% of their heaves from beyond the arc.
Logically, role players like Devin Vassell (1-of-6) and Dylan Harper (1-of-4) should shoot better in Game 2, again at home.
And them shooting better should allow Victor Wembanyama to preserve a touch of energy on the offensive end of the court, playmaking more than driving.
Victor Wembanyama same-game parlay
Wembanyama should also shoot better, though his 2-of-9 from deep in Game 1 would have cashed much of this same-game parlay, regardless. His shot looks tired right now, but he needs to keep chucking from deep.
Frankly, getting to the line 13 times was a means of scoring, but each blow also further exhausted Wemby.
The world may not want to acknowledge his fatigue, but it is still a reality. Debut playoff runs almost always end in exhaustion.
That is part of why Wembanyama has fallen short of this modest points prop in three of his last four games and in five of his last seven. Yet in six of those games, he hit multiple 3-pointers.
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