After seeing his taking part in time dwindle as a consequence of errors and inefficiency, culminating in a controversial 12-minute evening towards the Pelicans, Stephon Citadel has bounced again with a vengeance. He’s averaging 24 factors, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in his previous 5 appearances whereas capturing over 50 % from the ground.
The current stretch of nice play is noteworthy not simply because it’s giving him an enormous increase on the Rookie of the Yr race but additionally as a result of it has featured the type of manufacturing Citadel’s expertise suggests he may present frequently, however hasn’t persistently delivered. It looks as if the fact of Citadel is beginning to catch as much as the tantalizing thought of him.
Earlier than the current stretch, it was simple to contemplate Citadel slightly overrated. There have been some flashes of brilliance and nice video games, however you by no means knew once they have been going to come back. His performances have been so uneven that somebody catching Citadel on a nasty evening may fairly query whether or not he’d have a future within the league as a starter. Opponents left him open to assist elsewhere and he couldn’t make them pay typically sufficient. As a playmaker, Citadel sometimes tried issues he couldn’t do but as a result of the sport had not slowed down for him. He typically ventured into the paint on drives with no plan and ended up getting blocked or taking robust pictures. Protection was his calling card in faculty, however there have been video games during which the perfect gamers on the planet scored on him at will.
Usually the stats serve to right any rushed conclusions that end result from witnessing a nasty evening, however in Citadel’s case, the numbers appeared to verify that he was nothing particular. For the season, Citadel is averaging 13 factors, three rebounds, and three assists. He’s capturing 28 % from past the arc. The dunks are good, however Citadel has gotten blocked 46 instances, greater than anybody on the Spurs roster, and shoots only a shade over 42 % on drives. Opponents shoot about the identical with him defending them and he’s within the backside third in percentile as an isolation and pick-and-roll defender. Citadel was rightfully proclaimed the front-runner to win Rookie of the Yr however solely as a result of this can be a horrible class, as his numbers pale compared to previous winners of the award.
The current stretch doesn’t change what got here earlier than it, however it’s offering proof of what the extra plugged-in observers already knew: regardless of the pedestrian numbers and the tough stretches, Citadel could possibly be a particular participant sooner reasonably than later. The rookie shouldn’t be a marksman however he has 20 video games with a number of made threes this season. His kind wants tweaking however shouldn’t be damaged. The drives usually are not at all times clear, however he has the handles, the energy, the deceleration and the explosiveness to change into a nightmare to protect when he places his head down and tries to get to the rim. A few of the turnovers are unhealthy, however we’re speaking a few 20-year-old rookie who’s studying on the job after spending his sole faculty season taking part in primarily off the ball. And there are occasions when the protection seems to be elite, which isn’t one thing that normally occurs with younger gamers.
Citadel’s season has been underwhelming by way of numbers and there have been sufficient unhealthy video games to have an effect on his place within the rotation, however by all of it his potential has been simple. He may statistically be the worst Rookie of the Yr since Malcolm Brogdon, however whether or not he will get the award or not shouldn’t be what issues. Brogdon’s class additionally had Jaylen Brown and 4 different gamers who’ve All-Star appearances in it, all of whom had worse stats as rookies than Citadel is posting. He’s a piece in progress however the upside has been evident.
All that was lacking was consistency, and it appears Citadel may be discovering it prior to anticipated. 5 video games shouldn’t be a lot, however the rookie has seemed like he lastly is aware of his position and is assured in filling it nightly. If he can shut the yr sturdy, he’ll silence the skeptics by exhibiting that he’s not only a highlights machine however a reliable younger participant who’s nearer to creating an enormous leap than his numbers recommend.
