Castle ROTY watch

[couchman]

I love the kid and I’m worried that he’s learning some bad habits as a tank commander.
I want to see him refocus on the defensive end.

[couchman]

Risacher vs Castle remains an interesting debate.
Castle seems the obvious ROTY but is he the better prospec?
Risacher is proving to be a high floor 3&D wing, which is one of the more valuable archetypes in the league, and something the Spurs are desperately lacking. However, he benefits from Trae a lot and his ceiling is limited unless he develops some on-ball skills.
Castle is showing a much higher ceiling as an on-ball creator, but also a much lower floor if he can’t get his ugly shooting figured out.His fit is less obvious now with Fox onboard.
Both look like promising defenders.

If we’re re-drafting today I bet the Hawks would pick Zacharie again and so would many teams. Sarr would still get some looks. Castle would move up above Sheppard for most teams and above Risacher and Sarr for a good handful of teams.

[SpursBills]

Risacher is shooting 39% from 3 with Trae vs 25% without. He’s got an AST:TO < 0.9 without Trae. For a team without talent who doesn’t have a top 3 playmaker give me Castle every time.

[LeBowen]

Risacher is proving to be a high floor 3&D wing, which is one of the more valuable archetypes in the league, and something the Spurs are desperately lacking. However, he benefits from Trae a lot and his ceiling is limited unless he develops some on-ball skills.

It's a valuable archetype, but as you said he's got a very limited ceiling if he can't create anything for himself.
Recently he got really hot from 3pt, but going from left to right corner his percentages in 5 areas behind the arc are 44-28-36-22-36%, he's a left corner merchant. Usually the easiest spot for right handed players to shoot from. Don't get me wrong, that's also valuable, but he was 28% from 3pt up until February and is 41% since. We'll have to see how sustainable it is.
And there's a big difference between being a corner 3pt shooter and someone who's an off the ball threat with his movement.

Castle is showing a much higher ceiling as an on-ball creator, but also a much lower floor if he can’t get his ugly shooting figured out.His fit is less obvious now with Fox onboard.

Castle is a way more valuable archetype because there aren't many guards with his combination of size, playmaking and defensive potential out there.
Two best teams in the league have those players in their lineup, every team wants at least one.

Yes, his shot is ugly, but it's also no worse than most star guards who came into the league as bad shooters.
His ability to get to the line is something that's not seen often with rookie guards and sometimes that's the most valuable skill in the game because everyone has bad shooting nights, but if you can get to the line you can always mitigate it.

If we’re re-drafting today I bet the Hawks would pick Zacharie again and so would many teams. Sarr would still get some looks. Castle would move up above Sheppard for most teams and above Risacher and Sarr for a good handful of teams.

Sarr still has the highest ceiling, but odds of him reaching his full potential aren't that high, imo.
Risacher's best case scenario looks to be Mikal Bridges, which is very good, but I'm not sure it's worthy of a #1 pick. Castle definitely has a higher ceiling.
But as you said, Risacher is a safer player to bet on and Spurs will need their development staff to help Castle with his issues.

[Raven]

I love the kid and I’m worried that he’s learning some bad habits as a tank commander.
I want to see him refocus on the defensive end.

he's now only ahead on barnes in worst defensive rating on the team, with meaningful minutes.. has the same blocks per minute than tre jones and chris paul ... very worrisome.

[rascal]

Castle doesn't seem to be learning when to go at a player on a drive to the basket and when not to.

Every game he's getting stuffed at the rim or turning it over because he can't get a good shot off against a bigger player.
I do like the aggressiveness but need to see an improvement with less turnovers when he takes it to the basket.

[John B]

Roaches is dependent on Trae to facilitate for him. He will be a costly 3nD player. Castle can facilitate, get himself to the line, POA defender. Give me Castle anytime. I like that he’s taking chances of what he can do out there. The off-season will be the time to tweak and work on his shots. Castle will have a much higher ceiling than a 3nD specialist. Don’t take me wrong, I like Risacher but will choose Castle over him every time.

[Ice009]

Castle doesn't seem to be learning when to go at a player on a drive to the basket and when not to.

Every game he's getting stuffed at the rim or turning it over because he can't get a good shot off against a bigger player.
I do like the aggressiveness but need to see an improvement with less turnovers when he takes it to the basket.

Yeah, his recognizing when to attack and when not it hasn't improved. He's just trying to bull his way in there. I was hoping he'd get a bit smarter and vary his attacks a little bit. Mix in short jumpers, maybe a floater when going against shot blockers instead of trying to force his way in and get blocked. I love his aggressiveness, but was hoping he'd vary his attack more and know when to use what.

[scott]

I wander what record they got this year if Wemby didn’t get hurt, with the additions of CP3, Barnes and a rookie stud. If we are to compare to DRob’s rookie year. Cheeks was already out of his prime, mings saw better years, yet they finished 56-26 from 21-61 the previous year.

mings in DRob's rookie year was still prime TC. He was 28 years old, a year removed from an All-Star appearance and All NBA 3rd Team, and his first season with the Spurs was statistically as good as any season prior. He averaged 22.4 pts/8.4 reb/2.7 ast/1.4 stl/0.6 blks on .481 shooting. The year before (when he was an All Star) he was 22.9/8.1/2.5/1.3/0.9 on .467. This was still on par with his "best" season as a pro, which came his 3rd year in the league when he was All NBA 2nd Team and finished 5th in MVP voting. He put up 23.6/9.1/2.9/1.5/0.8 on .496.

That first season with San Antonio was on par with all of those, he was just overshadowed by a superstar in David Robinson. DRob + TC was an amazing 1-2 combo. And it was paired with a 23 year old Willie Anderson averaging 15.7ppg, a 23 year old Rod Strickland averaging 14.2/8.0, and a rookie Sean Elliott. What a team that was, and a lot of fun too. It was a damn shame there were injury cir stances and the Rod Strickland fiasco that derailed our potential. I still wonder what would have happened had Rod not lost his damn mind in Game 7 versus Portland in the WC Semis.

[BatManu20]

[John B]

mings in DRob's rookie year was still prime TC. He was 28 years old, a year removed from an All-Star appearance and All NBA 3rd Team, and his first season with the Spurs was statistically as good as any season prior. He averaged 22.4 pts/8.4 reb/2.7 ast/1.4 stl/0.6 blks on .481 shooting. The year before (when he was an All Star) he was 22.9/8.1/2.5/1.3/0.9 on .467. This was still on par with his "best" season as a pro, which came his 3rd year in the league when he was All NBA 2nd Team and finished 5th in MVP voting. He put up 23.6/9.1/2.9/1.5/0.8 on .496.

That first season with San Antonio was on par with all of those, he was just overshadowed by a superstar in David Robinson. DRob + TC was an amazing 1-2 combo. And it was paired with a 23 year old Willie Anderson averaging 15.7ppg, a 23 year old Rod Strickland averaging 14.2/8.0, and a rookie Sean Elliott. What a team that was, and a lot of fun too. It was a damn shame there were injury cir stances and the Rod Strickland fiasco that derailed our potential. I still wonder what would have happened had Rod not lost his damn mind in Game 7 versus Portland in the WC Semis.

Man I hated that Portland team Drexler, Porter, Kersey, Duckworth, Petrovic, Buck Williams, Cliff Robinson. That was as badass as the Isiah Thomas Pistons. I think Kersey ring with Spurs but Porter missed out I think.

[Mr. Body]

Near triple double again.

[baseline bum]

mings in DRob's rookie year was still prime TC. He was 28 years old, a year removed from an All-Star appearance and All NBA 3rd Team, and his first season with the Spurs was statistically as good as any season prior. He averaged 22.4 pts/8.4 reb/2.7 ast/1.4 stl/0.6 blks on .481 shooting. The year before (when he was an All Star) he was 22.9/8.1/2.5/1.3/0.9 on .467. This was still on par with his "best" season as a pro, which came his 3rd year in the league when he was All NBA 2nd Team and finished 5th in MVP voting. He put up 23.6/9.1/2.9/1.5/0.8 on .496.

That first season with San Antonio was on par with all of those, he was just overshadowed by a superstar in David Robinson. DRob + TC was an amazing 1-2 combo. And it was paired with a 23 year old Willie Anderson averaging 15.7ppg, a 23 year old Rod Strickland averaging 14.2/8.0, and a rookie Sean Elliott. What a team that was, and a lot of fun too. It was a damn shame there were injury cir stances and the Rod Strickland fiasco that derailed our potential. I still wonder what would have happened had Rod not lost his damn mind in Game 7 versus Portland in the WC Semis.

I wonder what would have happened if McCombs wasn't such a cheap bas and brought Strickland back instead of letting him walk for nothing to get replaced by Scrubby Del Negro. Gotta think the 95 WCF would have been a whole lot different with 1990s Tony Parker able to get buckets when they doubled and tripled Big Dave. Also Brickowski for Paul Pressey was a disaster. Best contribution Pressey ever made to the Spurs was holding Pop back from the refs in the early 00s when he'd pretend he was gonna go run up and curbstomp them.

[baseline bum]

Man I hated that Portland team Drexler, Porter, Kersey, Duckworth, Petrovic, Buck Williams, Cliff Robinson. That was as badass as the Isiah Thomas Pistons. I think Kersey ring with Spurs but Porter missed out I think.

I don't think Petrovic was there yet but JFC did Terry Porter skull the Spurs every time they matched up. Probably a bit as retribution for the Spurs passing him up to draft Alfredrick Hughes. Cotton Fitzsimmons might be one of the most disappointing coaches the Spurs ever had but he pushed for drafting Porter and instead the normally awesome Bob Bass ed up and took Aldredrick the Great.

[Manu-of-steel]

Castle with near triple double for the 2nd time. I think he will be able to do this on a nightly basis once he gets stronger(he's already a bully as a rookie). IMO, he's a good rebounder for his size, can rack up assists and points. Im excited for next year!

[Obstructed_View]

I don't think Petrovic was there yet but JFC did Terry Porter skull the Spurs every time they matched up. Probably a bit as retribution for the Spurs passing him up to draft Alfredrick Hughes. Cotton Fitzsimmons might be one of the most disappointing coaches the Spurs ever had but he pushed for drafting Porter and instead the normally awesome Bob Bass ed up and took Aldredrick the Great.

I didn't think he was there either but I looked it up and apparently that was his first year.

To think, that may have been the Spurs' least disappointing postseason until Timmy arrived. I think Nellie gave everyone the formula for beating Dave in the playoffs the following season.

[BatManu20]

Was Castle robbed of his first career Triple-Double? You be the judge.

[exstatic]

Castle with near triple double for the 2nd time. I think he will be able to do this on a nightly basis once he gets stronger(he's already a bully as a rookie). IMO, he's a good rebounder for his size, can rack up assists and points. Im excited for next year!

I think it was his third in like two weeks.

Previous two times before last night(points/rebounds/assists)

4/2 15/15/9
3/27 22/11/8

[CGD]

Yeah, his recognizing when to attack and when not it hasn't improved. He's just trying to bull his way in there. I was hoping he'd get a bit smarter and vary his attacks a little bit. Mix in short jumpers, maybe a floater when going against shot blockers instead of trying to force his way in and get blocked. I love his aggressiveness, but was hoping he'd vary his attack more and know when to use what.

This will improve. Also this team has no real offense these days and he’s one of the few guys who can break his player down once a play devolves to a half court set.

I’m definitely enjoying the middy package he’s experimenting with of late. Will serve him well.

[Knoxxx]

Castle's ability to dribble and create contact to draw ticky tack annoyance fouls and free throws is priceless. And often the fouls are well beyond ticky tack, he drops a shoulder into the defender like a linebacker and makes them feel pain. Through all of that he rarely ever charges because he is quick enough and has the handles to make the defender move and be off balance even when they are in position.

That is a crucial skill when you are trying to stop another team's run or cannot afford scoreless possessions down the stretch. Castle is one of those guys that can ugly a game up and make a living at the FT line when necessary.

His finishing needs to continue to improve, and yes he does dumb stuff like drive into a crowded lane or into shotblockers while barely jumping. Or boneheaded passes, settling for a long 3 too often, etc. But usually his passing and decisions are very on point and well beyond any typical 20-y/o rookie. The BBIQ is obviously there, well beyond several of our rotation players that have been here for some years with little to any improvement in that regard.

This award is obviously now his:

"Castle is the favorite in Vegas for legitimate reasons. He ranks first among all the first-year guys in points, field goals, shots, free throws, and steals, as well as third in minutes and tied for third in assists. "

Kia Rookie Ladder: Stephon Castle closing in on award in final push | NBA.com

[John B]

Was Castle robbed of his first career Triple-Double? You be the judge.

I don’t know if you can consider that a rebound when a missed shot didn’t touch the rim or the backboard, nor was it deflected.

But I think Castle will get plenty of opportunities for a triple-double with his size and nose for the ball.

[John B]

Was Castle robbed of his first career Triple-Double? You be the judge.

I don’t know if you can consider that a rebound when a missed shot didn’t touch the rim or the backboard, nor was it deflected.

But I think Castle will get plenty of opportunities for a triple-double with his size and nose for the ball.

[Mr. Body]

I'm not sure how a person can say he's not improving when to attack when he's learning how to draw fouls to a high degree. He's establishing that he deserves a whistle. It's clearly better than early in the season.

[exstatic]

I don’t know if you can consider that a rebound when a missed shot didn’t touch the rim or the backboard, nor was it deflected.

But I think Castle will get plenty of opportunities for a triple-double with his size and nose for the ball.

It was blocked, and that was a rebound.

[John B]

It was blocked, and that was a rebound.

If that was deflected, Garland would be awarded a block then yes it’s a rebound. But if it wasn’t recorded a block, then there’s no rebound.