The Irregular Trebuchet of Stephon Castle

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Everyone can see that Castle should be starting. Question is, will anyone on the Simulator Crew figure it out once Sochan is healthy?

[Ice009]

Gotta admit Castle is way better than I expected. Much better. I love the kid.
And yet, the shooting is so awful and I am not yet seeing any signs that it is getting better.
Without that he tops out as a limited role player who can only play in certain lineups.
He’s just a rookie so give it a couple more years and hopefully he figures it out.

Yeah, this is actually a great point as normally I'd be all over a player's shooting, but for whatever reason, I really like his game and keep sort of not focusing on his shooting as much as I would with 95% of other players. People keep saying he has good form and even Sean and those guys are mentioning it, but some of his misses are off on the side of the rim, air balls or just off in various ways, and for whatever reason, I'm not getting upset about it. Maybe it's the rest of his game that is winning me over. He's also driving in/bullying his way in, and I guess I am liking that too (even with the results not being great sometimes where he gets stuck with nowhere to go and sometimes gets blocked or turns it over), as at least he is being aggressive and trying to get to the rim (we don't have a lot of players who can do this, so it's really needed). I would like him to be a bit more selective with those drives, but again, it's need as we don't really have many penetrators on the team.

And like you said,If he can become a decent shooter, he will be great.

I think I also like that he seems to be shooting with confidence, and as I shooter myself, I also agree with those guys that his form isn't too bad at all, but I do get suprised by some of his misses being off. I'd like to see him try to add a mid-range jumper and maybe a floater as I think that would help open up his game more. I can't remember a young Chris Paul, but wasn't he a pretty good midrange shooter? I don't remember CP3 being a great 3 point shooter right from the start of his career? I think he took more midrange shots? Stephon should also definitely be starting. Both he and the team seem better off for it.

[KobesAchilles]

It’ll be a Vassell-Castle backcourt after this season. Paul won’t be here forever. I like the 4-5 Sochan-Wemby pairing personally, but it doesn’t work with the other two unless the 3 is a sniper.

I will be so depressed and disappointed next year if both Sochan and Vassell are starting next year. I mean wtf would we even be doing as a franchise if that’s the plan going forward. Sochan is a high energy bench player. He just can’t be used on our team as a starter if we want to win. Vassell is just a brick layer. There’s nothing else to his game.

If we don’t make a ing trade or swing for a big move this offseason then this team again won’t make the playoffs next year.

Objectively, the Spurs just standing pat and wasting the first 3 years of Wembys career is just stupid. Spurs fans like to about contracts of other star players, their age, their supposed fit, which player is overpaid and whatever other nonsense. So they’d rather just stand pat instead of taking a risk. But the time to up and go for it is when we have Wemby for 13 million a year. FFS he’s about to cost 50+ million a year going forward. If we pay a Jimmy Butler (not even saying I want him just using him as an example) 50 million this year and next year. We make the playoffs both years and get bounced in the second round both years or even just one year. Does that hurt us at all? What is the risk of even pulling the trigger for that trade?

If this was a bar, most of Spurstalk would be watching others take home girls while members like Splits would be saying nope elbow too pointy. And just go home alone with a nice bottle of lotion

[scott]

yeah. i think the default staring unit should be Paul/Vassell/Castle/Barnes/Hector

i think you can then consider swapping vassell and champagnie, but i think you have to let vassell try to figure things out because he's just the better talent. as meh a fit as sochan has been with wemby, it would probably be even worse with bassey though. he theoretically complements Objectively Good though

Sochan is a very good theoretical fit with my man, Big Daddy Val.

[scott]

I will be so depressed and disappointed next year if both Sochan and Vassell are starting next year. I mean wtf would we even be doing as a franchise if that’s the plan going forward. Sochan is a high energy bench player. He just can’t be used on our team as a starter if we want to win. Vassell is just a brick layer. There’s nothing else to his game.

If we don’t make a ing trade or swing for a big move this offseason then this team again won’t make the playoffs next year.

Objectively, the Spurs just standing pat and wasting the first 3 years of Wembys career is just stupid. Spurs fans like to about contracts of other star players, their age, their supposed fit, which player is overpaid and whatever other nonsense. So they’d rather just stand pat instead of taking a risk. But the time to up and go for it is when we have Wemby for 13 million a year. FFS he’s about to cost 50+ million a year going forward. If we pay a Jimmy Butler (not even saying I want him just using him as an example) 50 million this year and next year. We make the playoffs both years and get bounced in the second round both years or even just one year. Does that hurt us at all? What is the risk of even pulling the trigger for that trade?

If this was a bar, most of Spurstalk would be watching others take home girls while members like Splits would be saying nope elbow too pointy. And just go home alone with a nice bottle of lotion

Halfway through your post a certain analogy occurred to me that I was going to respond with... and then you went ahead and just closed your post with it

The fact that this message board has a section with a post where dudes just post and criticize pictures of models is pretty insightful as to the psyche of some of these characters.

[Ice009]

Sochan is a very good theoretical fit with my man, Big Daddy Val.

Didn't the Spurs really want to draft Valanciunas during that draft? I thought I remember during that time they were even considering trading for him or a spot to draft him during his draft night (I could be remembering way wrong on this, though, and maybe it was Toronto which asked for TP and they Spurs said no?)

[Ice009]

Sochan is a very good theoretical fit with my man, Big Daddy Val.

Didn't the Spurs really want to draft Valanciunas during that draft? I thought I remember during that time they were even considering trading for him or a spot to draft him during his draft night (I could be remembering way wrong on this, though, and maybe it was Toronto which asked for TP and the Spurs said no?)

[Raven]

putting sarr at the top of the ladder seems political more than anything

[Raven]

Everyone can see that Castle should be starting. Question is, will anyone on the Simulator Crew figure it out once Sochan is healthy?

i actually think it is mindblowing that someone would argue that because castle plays way better with the starters, that he should be starting..

[LeBowen]

i actually think it is mindblowing that someone would argue that because castle plays way better with the starters, that he should be starting..

It's not because Castle plays better with the starters, but because starters also play better with Castle.
He's also a really poor shooter at this stage, but unlike Jeremy he at least takes them and makes some.
And unlike any other starter, he can consistently get to the rim and more importantly to the line.
He takes advantage of mismatches way better than Jeremy.

Is he a great player right now? Obviously not, but every time he plays he's showing potential and since we got noone better, he must play 30 minutes every game unless he's completely awful.

[Raven]

It's not because Castle plays better with the starters, but because starters also play better with Castle.
He's also a really poor shooter at this stage, but unlike Jeremy he at least takes them and makes some.
And unlike any other starter, he can consistently get to the rim and more importantly to the line.
He takes advantage of mismatches way better than Jeremy.

Is he a great player right now? Obviously not, but every time he plays he's showing potential and since we got noone better, he must play 30 minutes every game unless he's completely awful.

Sochan is simply the better player at this stage, there's not much to debate.

[LeBowen]

Sochan is simply the better player at this stage, there's not much to debate.

There actually is if every single advanced stat shows our team plays better with Castle instead of Sochan.
I also dislike individual player comparisons because they're not playing the same position or role and neither is a star player, then it just becomes about the fit on the team.

But your entire gimmick on this forum is hating on Castle, so I won't even bother going in depth. If you're interested, you can check all the advanced on/off metrics by yourself.

[Knoxxx]

Sochan has been bothered by injuries and some indecisive play but he has also had stretches where he jumps off the court with his energy, like going for 12 and 6-8 REBs playing ten minutes in a quarter. Not lately, but again the injuries.

I think where we are headed is Sochan and Castle firmly being part of the 6 man rotation and seeing how that goes. Clearly Castle needs consistent playing time which appears to be a worthwhile investment. The odd men out are more likely guys like Champagnie and Jones.
.

[Raven]

There actually is if every single advanced stat shows our team plays better with Castle instead of Sochan.
I also dislike individual player comparisons because they're not playing the same position or role and neither is a star player, then it just becomes about the fit on the team.

But your entire gimmick on this forum is hating on Castle, so I won't even bother going in depth. If you're interested, you can check all the advanced on/off metrics by yourself.

i actually like castle a lot, but there is no denying that he currently can't defend in the paint and his offensive game is going to the rim in a very predictable manner.

[Knoxxx]

Castle plays a bit too low to the floor at times. Doesn’t want to use any lift and hang in the air on his drives, but rather hesitate and euro step. That can be scouted and stopped. He needs to mix it up more and not be too predictable, jump and hang in the air some of the time, not exclusively try to be crafty. He is predictably crafty, which ends up being not a crafty approach. He’s athletic enough for that to be an asset but doesn’t use it enough.

[CorrectCrusader]

Castle plays a bit too low to the floor at times. Doesn’t want to use any lift and hang in the air on his drives, but rather hesitate and euro step. That can be scouted and stopped. He needs to mix it up more and not be too predictable, jump and hang in the air some of the time, not exclusively try to be crafty. He is predictably crafty, which ends up being not a crafty approach. He’s athletic enough for that to be an asset but doesn’t use it enough.

Well, you got what you asked for

[Knoxxx]

I couldn’t watch the game fortunately, but sounds like the Castle highlights and Wemby’s blocks will be worth seeing. This team needs to stay a bit below .500 then tank hard at the last.

[spursistan]

Kid looked like he wanted it more than Wemby out there. Absolute stud and a certified future core piece..

[rascal]

Sochan is simply the better player at this stage, there's not much to debate.

I wouldn't say that. Castle is a rookie and Sochan is in his third year.

Castle brought the Spurs back in the Laker game in the third quarter and was key in that win.

[CorrectCrusader]

i actually like castle a lot, but there is no denying that he currently can't defend in the paint and his offensive game is going to the rim in a very predictable manner.

a guard can't defend in the paint???

[Knoxxx]

My only gripe with Castle was two of nine from 3. That seems like settling for too many 3s. But, all he has to do is go 4 of 9 and he’s a star so might as well keep practicing them while padding our loss total.

Edit: seems possible Castle could take over starting PG from Paul as soon as next season. But, chances are we will see Paul for at least another.

[tim_duncan_fan]

My only gripe with Castle was two of nine from 3. That seems like settling for too many 3s. But, all he has to do is go 4 of 9 and he’s a star so might as well keep practicing them while padding our loss total.

He already struggles because he can't shoot, which also means he can't shy away from him. He will take his shots at the rim, because that's the game he is comfortable with, but he must threaten from distance or the attacks at the rim will be completely shut off. Luckily, he is aware that he is 100% figured out and solved if he doesn't have a 3, so I think he will work on it in the coming off-seasons of his career. Bottom line is that he has to be confident and put the threes up, make or miss.

[rascal]

My only gripe with Castle was two of nine from 3. That seems like settling for too many 3s. But, all he has to do is go 4 of 9 and he’s a star so might as well keep practicing them while padding our loss total.

Edit: seems possible Castle could take over starting PG from Paul as soon as next season. But, chances are we will see Paul for at least another.

Hope Paul is not here next year. Need to move forward with the young guys next year. Paul will be 40 next year and is about to go off the cliff.

[Knoxxx]

Well, you got what you asked for

The highlights look nice. He has been holding back, playing like he’s 35+ years old when he’s only 20. Nice to see him actually jump a bit and to good effect that was what I had in mind. When you rarely ever jump but can you aren’t playing hard enough. Unless you are a lengthy big who is a genius at positioning like TD. Castle also plays too low on defense often. That’s probably what posters who say he can’t defend in the paint are referring too, his strong tendency to mainly just move his feet with his hands up. It’s good fundamentals but not flashy and he needs to be more flashy in spots to excel and fulfill his potential.

[CorrectCrusader]

Hope Paul is not here next year. Need to move forward with the young guys next year. Paul will be 40 next year and is about to go off the cliff.

Paul is still by far our 2nd best player by advanced metrics. No need to offload him unless we're trying to tank (our front office is too stupid to do that)