Stephon Citadel returned to the beginning lineup in two of the Spurs’ final 4 video games attributable to an harm to Jeremy Sochan. The rookie shot 25 p.c from the ground in these two matchups, made simply one among 9 of his three-pointers and had some unhealthy moments on protection. His efficiency off the bench in between each begins wasn’t significantly better.
Previously 4 video games, San Antonio has come out on prime as soon as, an inspiring win over the Nuggets, and has misplaced the opposite three. A collapse in opposition to the Bulls and a blowout in opposition to the Bucks had been disheartening for various causes. The Spurs are at present outdoors the play-in spots, sitting at eleventh within the West.
It hasn’t been an excellent stretch for the Silver and Black and the fourth general choose of the 2024 NBA draft. However the disappointment that’s come from it is perhaps overblown to some extent due to raised expectations. Each Citadel and the Spurs are affected by their early-season success.
Citadel was a part of a universally panned draft class. The specialists had been proper, as nobody apart from Jared McCain, who’s out for the season, is averaging over 12 factors. Reed Sheppard, the third general choose, was despatched to the G League as a result of there have been no minutes for him in Houston. Zaccharie Risacher, the highest choose, is a strong defender however an offensive catastrophe and Alex Sarr, the second choose, has improved just lately however had a tough begin to his season that was elevating critical issues about his future. Nobody from this group of rookies is lighting the league on hearth. Citadel isn’t the exception, as he’s capturing terribly from the ground and past the arc, has a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and alternates between tantalizing defensive possessions and ones that function a reminder that he solely has 36 NBA video games below his belt. Citadel has usually been unhealthy but additionally promising, as he was anticipated to be.
The issue is he had a stretch earlier within the season by which he appeared like he may very well be significantly better earlier than anticipated. In 17 video games as a starter whereas Jeremy Sochan recovered from a damaged finger, Citadel averaged 14.6 factors and 4.5 assists whereas capturing a nonetheless unhealthy however not utterly horrendous 40 p.c from the ground and 31 p.c on threes. Throughout that stretch, he scored over 20 factors 4 instances and made 27 of his complete 34 threes for the season. He had his ups and downs, nevertheless it felt like he was a greater shooter than marketed, and he was acclimating to the NBA simply. The Spurs went 9-8 throughout that span and Citadel was enjoying over half-hour per recreation and was a part of a beginning unit that was among the many greatest within the league, in an admittedly small pattern measurement. In fact the model of Citadel since his return to the bench has dissatisfied in comparison with the earlier one.
One thing comparable occurred with the Silver and Black usually. The Spurs had been anticipated to win round 34 video games coming into this season, and it was affordable to suppose the projections had been too optimistic, contemplating they received 22 the yr prior and didn’t add any stars. The West was predicted to be a buzzsaw and it has been, with 10 groups having a .500 document or higher and the Kevin Durant-Devin Booker-Bradley Beal Suns on monitor to overlook the play-in. In that context, it must be no shock that San Antonio, after struggling a number of accidents to projected starters and lacking their legendary head coach, has a shedding document. They had been by no means purported to be one of many prime groups even below excellent circumstances, because the arrivals of Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes weren’t seen as win-now strikes, however somewhat as a method of building some order to a roster in flux.
Earlier than the season’s begin, most followers would have been elated to know the staff would have an 18-19 document close to the midway level, however the Spurs exceeded expectations early and are actually measured in a different way. The primary few video games weren’t nice however San Antonio began to get high quality wins after some time, and hovering round .500 stopped seeming as spectacular as initially. Victor Wembanyama changed into a famous person, Paul and Barnes proved to be not simply good however nice suits, and the Spurs had been competing even with main absences. Some Western groups underperformed and out of the blue it wasn’t the play-in that appeared attainable however a direct ticket to the playoffs. The Silver and Black didn’t have many signature wins however they had been beating the opponents they had been purported to frequently and, regardless of a road-heavy schedule being on the horizon, the expectation was regular enchancment, not letdown video games.
Regardless of notion, each the Spurs and their prized rookie are arguably doing higher than initially anticipated. The staff is on tempo to win 40 video games, which most followers would have thought of a hit in what was deemed a transitional season. Wemby is pretty much as good as projected and the veterans have helped. The group has been sturdy sufficient mentally that Gregg Popovich’s surprising absence has not fazed them. As for Citadel, his transition right into a featured ball handler and creator goes effectively, as he makes good pick-and-roll reads and will get to the rim along with his herky-jerky drives. The shot is unhealthy however his athleticism off two ft has been a nice shock, and he may very well be averaging just a few extra free throws a recreation if he acquired a traditional whistle. He clearly has a future within the league.
It’s completely wonderful to regulate expectations because the season goes alongside. There’s nothing unsuitable with hoping a participant or a staff will stay as much as the extent they confirmed previously. “It may very well be worse” is just not a very inspiring battle cry, particularly when there’s proof that it may very well be significantly better. Complacency is just not a advantage.
It’s important, nevertheless, to recollect why the unique expectations had been established. Younger groups and younger gamers have their ups and downs, and that’s precisely what we’ve seen with San Antonio. Hopefully an upswing comes quickly; but when it doesn’t, we’re already enjoying with home cash.
