Okay, fine. I'll enter the symantic fray. An unloaded wheel is already under a lot of complex internal stress. When a weight is applied the load in the spokes changes. Some increase in tension, some decrease. All of the spokes conspire together to support the load. None of them individually "carry" the load. The load doesn't "hang" from the top nor is it supported from below. It's supported by all of the spokes together. Take all of the spokes from one side out and the system fails.

Ditto the "which spokes drive" question.