Castle ROTY watch

[cutewizard]

Imagine if ever ........

Back to back....

[John B]

The game versus the Hawks is a must win. I’m hoping Mitch would put Castle back in the SL to slow down Trae and keep Castle in the SL over Sochan. Mitch should realize Castle has a higher ceiling than Sochan, and Castle could very well be the Spurs 2nd or 3rd option down the line. Sochan will never be a 2nd or 3rd option. At best Sochan could be a poor man Draymond Green but that too is a stretch. If ever an ideal PF comes available, i.e. Ingram, easily Sochan gets replaced. On the other hand, Castle offers a desirable big defensive PG who can bully defenders. Easily Castle has the higher ceiling between the two. The only way the two gets to play together on the court is one of them developing a consistent 3pt shot. Again with their shooting forms, I have my money on Castle.

[Raven]

The game versus the Hawks is a must win. I’m hoping Mitch would put Castle back in the SL to slow down Trae and keep Castle in the SL over Sochan. Mitch should realize Castle has a higher ceiling than Sochan, and Castle could very well be the Spurs 2nd or 3rd option down the line. Sochan will never be a 2nd or 3rd option. At best Sochan could be a poor man Draymond Green but that too is a stretch. If ever an ideal PF comes available, i.e. Ingram, easily Sochan gets replaced. On the other hand, Castle offers a desirable big defensive PG who can bully defenders. Easily Castle has the higher ceiling between the two. The only way the two gets to play together on the court is one of them developing a consistent 3pt shot. Again with their shooting forms, I have my money on Castle.

wow, so much badness in this comment, i don't even know where to start.. Ideal pf and Ingram made me hurl

[exstatic]

wow, so much badness in this comment, i don't even know where to start.. Ideal pf and Ingram made me hurl

Yeah, if he were so ideal, they would have traded him for a haul by now.

The infuriating thing about BI is that he CAN shoot the three, but mostly chooses not to. His volume is way too low.

[Uriel]

So would Castle be the #1 pick if a re-draft were held today?

[John B]

wow, so much badness in this comment, i don't even know where to start.. Ideal pf and Ingram made me hurl

Ingram was just an example. The point was Sochan is not ideal for his PF position primarily because of his inability to shoot outside, whereas Castle is a desirable big defensive guard, albeit not a great shooter but he would’ve been overall number 1 if he did. Anyways, I’m just saying Castle should be starting if it’s between Sochan and him on the floor with Wemby.

[rascal]

Ingram was just an example. The point was Sochan is not ideal for his PF position primarily because of his inability to shoot outside, whereas Castle is a desirable big defensive guard, albeit not a great shooter but he would’ve been overall number 1 if he did. Anyways, I’m just saying Castle should be starting if it’s between Sochan and him on the floor with Wemby.

Wow, you're usually a big Homer for Spurs players. Unusual to see you down on a player, Sochan.

[exstatic]

Ingram was just an example. The point was Sochan is not ideal for his PF position primarily because of his inability to shoot outside, whereas Castle is a desirable big defensive guard, albeit not a great shooter but he would’ve been overall number 1 if he did. Anyways, I’m just saying Castle should be starting if it’s between Sochan and him on the floor with Wemby.

Unless you’re GS circa Durant add on, you don’t have ideal options at most positions. Sochan is a solid to very good defender, a vastly improved rebounder, a connector, and a smart screener and cutter. He and Wemby had some great chemistry before the thumb incident, and they probably will again.

[John B]

Unless you’re GS circa Durant add on, you don’t have ideal options at most positions. Sochan is a solid to very good defender, a vastly improved rebounder, a connector, and a smart screener and cutter. He and Wemby had some great chemistry before the thumb incident, and they probably will again.

I agree with everything you said about Sochan. But the Spurs cannot play both non-shooting players with Wemby. And if it’s between Sochan and Castle to start, I’d choose Castle.

Ideal is a preference. And yes it would be ideal to have a shooting PF next to Wemby.

[spurraider21]

I agree with everything you said about Sochan. But the Spurs cannot play both non-shooting players with Wemby. And if it’s between Sochan and Castle to start, I’d choose Castle.

Ideal is a preference. And yes it would be ideal to have a shooting PF next to Wemby.

i agree that you could probably only get away with starting 1 of them right now, but if it were up to me, it would be sochan due to how well he's been rebounding. with tre jones being hurt and branham out of the rotation, there are still a lot of minutes to go around for castle. and despite how disappointing his play has been, i still think you eventually want to get vassell working in the starting lineup. having him out there alongside wemby and paul would actually force him into less ballhog tendencies and get him in the flow of the offense. you probably still start barnes as he's been hitting 50% of his corner 3's

then you've got Castle/Champagnie off the bench as solid two-way perimeter players. just have to stagger guard minutes to limit the wesley/castle backcourts

[John B]

i agree that you could probably only get away with starting 1 of them right now, but if it were up to me, it would be sochan due to how well he's been rebounding. with tre jones being hurt and branham out of the rotation, there are still a lot of minutes to go around for castle. and despite how disappointing his play has been, i still think you eventually want to get vassell working in the starting lineup. having him out there alongside wemby and paul would actually force him into less ballhog tendencies and get him in the flow of the offense. you probably still start barnes as he's been hitting 50% of his corner 3's

then you've got Castle/Champagnie off the bench as solid two-way perimeter players. just have to stagger guard minutes to limit the wesley/castle backcourts

Not only because I want Castle to get a better shot at ROTY as a starter, but also because I see Castle as having a higher ceiling than Sochan and could eventually be Spurs 2nd or 3rd option down the line.

[spurraider21]

Not only because I want Castle to get a better shot at ROTY as a starter, but also because I see Castle as having a higher ceiling than Sochan and could eventually be Spurs 2nd or 3rd option down the line.

sure but that probably ends up with him being on-ball, which he'll get plenty of reps doing off the bench

[Raven]

I agree with everything you said about Sochan. But the Spurs cannot play both non-shooting players with Wemby. And if it’s between Sochan and Castle to start, I’d choose Castle.

Ideal is a preference. And yes it would be ideal to have a shooting PF next to Wemby.

I just don't get this, I mean Wemby is the shooter already, why would you need to pair him with a shooter?

[John B]

I just don't get this, I mean Wemby is the shooter already, why would you need to pair him with a shooter?

First so they can start a non-shooter Castle (you can’t have two non-shooters on the floor). And secondly, a stretch 4 can pull his defender off the paint, thus opening more lanes for Wemby to take his defender when they close out. Markkanen would’ve been great but that ship already sailed.

Again a stretch 4 allows Castle to start, learns playing alongside the point god, and gets a better shot at ROTY. Right now I rather see Barnes at 4 to make it work. Have Vassell, Keldon and Sochan run havoc against 2nd squad defenders

[The Truth #6]

Seems like there's a few different ways to approach this, with no obvious, easy answer. Keep starting Castle to get him minutes this year, or let him come off the bench and learn to adapt.

Castle's play seems to have cooled off a bunch since all the injured players came back. And keeping a winning product on the floor should probably still be the goal.

Honestly, the starting 5 perhaps should be decided by match ups until things become more obvious.

[Raven]

First so they can start a non-shooter Castle (you can’t have two non-shooters on the floor). And secondly, a stretch 4 can pull his defender off the paint, thus opening more lanes for Wemby to take his defender when they close out. Markkanen would’ve been great but that ship already sailed.

Again a stretch 4 allows Castle to start, learns playing alongside the point god, and gets a better shot at ROTY. Right now I rather see Barnes at 4 to make it work. Have Vassell, Keldon and Sochan run havoc against 2nd squad defenders

yeah because lack of open lanes is wemby's issue..

[ambchang]

One of the surprising thing is when I look up the advanced numbers, especially on the defensive end, is pretty bad. His Drating is at 123.7 and his mixed team defense stats (based on some counting stats) is at 33th percentile in the league. His shooting is bad pretty much across the board, and he has a high TOV%, which is expected for a rookie.

I still haven't figured it out, because watching the game, his game is quite advanced for a rookie, and he seems to be doing quite well, but the advanced stats don't reflect that, so i have to watch a bit more closely. I am still very happy with Castle, and think he is just a few minor fixes to be a star (shooting, defending without fouling, cleaner passes).

[exstatic]

One of the surprising thing is when I look up the advanced numbers, especially on the defensive end, is pretty bad. His Drating is at 123.7 and his mixed team defense stats (based on some counting stats) is at 33th percentile in the league. His shooting is bad pretty much across the board, and he has a high TOV%, which is expected for a rookie.

I still haven't figured it out, because watching the game, his game is quite advanced for a rookie, and he seems to be doing quite well, but the advanced stats don't reflect that, so i have to watch a bit more closely. I am still very happy with Castle, and think he is just a few minor fixes to be a star (shooting, defending without fouling, cleaner passes).

Rookies are rarely efficient on either end. We’re just seeing glimpses of what he can be. Think of this year as a sneak peek, or preview of coming attractions.

[Joseph Kony]

Castle is officially #1 on the NBA ROY ladder

[John B]

Castle is officially #1 on the NBA ROY ladder

He has a pretty good chance if he stays in the starting lineup I think

[spurraider21]

still think it can be Edey and Clingan could be a riser as well if Portland moves Ayton and he starts getting big minutes

edey has to stay healthy though, having already missed 12 games

[Joseph Kony]

He has a pretty good chance if he stays in the starting lineup I think

agree, if Vassell is going to the bench forever then Castle should be starting. But then it becomes and issue because a Sochan/Castle starting lineup doesnt provide much spacing for Victor. some tough decisions to make

[Joseph Kony]

still think it can be Edey and Clingan could be a riser as well if Portland moves Ayton and he starts getting big minutes

edey has to stay healthy though, having already missed 12 games

the 65 game minimum doesnt apply to ROY or 6MOY

dont see them moving off Ayton this season tbh. he's an MLE level center making 30 million and his work ethic is questionable, teams know this by now. and with the apron rules i'm guessing it's going to be a much slower trade deadline this year. Clingan should absolutely be starting but Chauncey aint gonna bench Ayton for a rookie.

if Steph continues to start and just plays how he has been while improving slightly as the year goes on, he should easily win the award now with McCain sidelined

[spurraider21]

the 65 game minimum doesnt apply to ROY or 6MOY

dont see them moving off Ayton this season tbh. he's an MLE level center making 30 million and his work ethic is questionable, teams know this by now. and with the apron rules i'm guessing it's going to be a much slower trade deadline this year. Clingan should absolutely be starting but Chauncey aint gonna bench Ayton for a rookie.

if Steph continues to start and just plays how he has been while improving slightly as the year goes on, he should easily win the award now with McCain sidelined

ah.

i'd agree that castle is in the driver's seat tho, but i dont think he's played so consistenty well that he's locked out the people behind him

[Raven]

still think it can be Edey and Clingan could be a riser as well if Portland moves Ayton and he starts getting big minutes

edey has to stay healthy though, having already missed 12 games

I agree.. Think Castle should manage to pull it off tbh