The Spurs used the 4th general decide on 6’6” guard Stephon Citadel, who enters the league with a well-earned defensive fame. And whereas protection is an effective way to earn minutes within the NBA, it’s how he does offensively that can contribute to how a lot he sees the court docket. Citadel can be considered one of 5 guards on the roster searching for minutes. Let’s check out how he did in school and see what would possibly translate to the following stage.
Going by means of his UConn movie, he isn’t an offensive dynamo, however he has some potential together with some instant issues. At first look, though he isn’t a powerful shooter (26.7 % from three) he nonetheless has respectable spacing. He’s good a drifting and lifting to be in the fitting place. He then makes use of the area defenses give him and might use it to slash or drift towards the paint to get a glance. A slot minimize like this may very effectively translate on the subsequent stage, particularly in a two-man recreation with Victor Wembanyama.
Citadel has additionally discovered some success on mid-rangers and floaters. He reveals he can use his massive man in dribble-hand-offs or screens and get into the area for open appears to be like.
Nonetheless, he might want to enhance his ending talents on the rim. Citadel tends to hesitate or double-clutch as a substitute of ending by means of contact. Generally he could make it work, hanging within the air and redirecting the ball.
However different occasions it’s pointless and might result in missed pictures.
Double clutching across the rim is okay, if the participant could make it work, and Citadel would possibly sooner or later. He’ll must be taught when to go straight up and doubtlessly even draw a foul, or develop his athleticism to get the benefit and end over the defender. His ending seems to be at its greatest the extra fluid his assault is.
As a guard, he isn’t the first initiator, and since he isn’t a catch-and-shoot risk, meaning he’s both slicing or searching his shot unassisted for many of his buckets. When he does get the ball to search out his spot, he performs with a tempo that may be seen as both persistence or hesitation, and it’s a bit of each. He solely actually dunks the ball or finishes sturdy when he has a transparent runway. The stability between ready for the fitting opening and forcing one, which isn’t one thing he does typically, is perhaps difficult for him.
This may very well be on account of his ball-handling expertise, which seem to have limitations. He might not be snug sufficient to go for sturdy finishes in visitors but. That stated, he has proven some flashes of potential alongside some unhealthy turnovers the place he loses the ball unprovoked.
As a passer, Citadel has proven some potential however nothing overwhelming. At UConn, he had a close to 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which isn’t nice however taking part in with Donavan Clingan gave him expertise feeding a rim runner and dumping off to the dunker spot. He can match the ball in tight areas but additionally can have these dishes jumped by the protection.
On the whole, he might want to maintain the ball higher. There have been a couple of occasions final 12 months the place he both was too sturdy along with his offhand and was referred to as for an offensive foul, shuffled his toes an excessive amount of earlier than establishing a dribble, or simply made a foul go. Every of these points by itself isn’t horrible and may be anticipated from younger gamers, however he’ll must tighten up the errors to keep away from getting pulled off the ground.
As talked about, taking pictures isn’t Citadel’s sturdy go well with, however his jumper isn’t damaged, simply inconsistent. It’s potential he may develop into a good shooter which might make him a real spacer if it together with the ending comes to hurry to go with his slicing.
Total, Citadel’s offensive recreation has some limitations however there’s something there to work with. His important focus ought to be on his ending and taking pictures, if these polish up he’s simply a great function participant alongside the strains of Alex Caruso. If he ramps the whole lot up, he may even be a participant much like Derrick White.
