With not solely Victor Wembanyama but in addition De’Aaron Fox out for the season, Stephon Citadel and Devin Vassell have been handed the reins – with fairly encouraging outcomes. The Spurs have gained some video games in current weeks and competed admirably towards the closely sontending Cavs and the Celtics.
Citadel has averaged greater than 20 factors per recreation and over 5 assists per recreation throughout this stretch. He’s additionally trying shut to 5 three-pointers per recreation, making nearly 30% of them – a big step up when it comes to manufacturing.
The identical goes for Devin Vassell, who has averaged practically 20 factors per recreation since Fox went down. Moreover, he has been capturing over 45% from past the arc on nearly eight makes an attempt per recreation – an elite degree, precisely the place he needs to be.
Neither Citadel nor Vassell had their greatest recreation Saturday evening towards the Celtics, however each carried out fairly properly. The important thing query is: Will they have the ability to keep their productiveness subsequent season after they share the courtroom with each Wembanyama and Fox?
Takeaways:
The Celtics tried to take advantage of the peak mismatch between Kristaps Porzingis and Jeremy Sochan early on, with Porzingis scoring the primary 5 factors for Boston. Nonetheless, due to some wonderful passes from Chris Paul and Devin Vassell, Sochan was capable of reply with two close-range buckets. That’s one method to maintain him concerned within the offense – a necessity, on condition that defenders proceed to disregard him on the perimeter, and his shot stays each sluggish and inaccurate. His 12 journeys to the free-throw line had been possible an outlier efficiency.
Defensively, the Spurs struggled early on to contest the Celtics’ elite outdoors shooters. Within the first quarter alone, Boston made three wide-open threes from the correct nook. In the meantime, the Celtics made it tough for the Spurs to get clear appears. Regardless of this, San Antonio managed to remain inside putting distance for a lot of the recreation. Contemplating that third-stringers Blake Wesley and Sandro Mamukelashvili performed vital minutes – properly above their season averages – whereas the Celtics had been practically at full energy, the efficiency was commendable. It additionally means that each Wesley and Mamukelashvili have proven noticeable enchancment.
One of many Spurs’ hardest stretches got here within the first half of the second quarter, when the Celtics deployed two seven-footers, Porzingis and Luke Kornet. With out Wembanyama, San Antonio had no reply for his or her dimension defensively, nor might they exploit the dearth of mobility on the opposite finish. The Spurs began the quarter down by 9 and fell behind by 16 by the seven-minute mark, largely resulting from Kornet’s impression. Nonetheless, as soon as he went to the bench, the Spurs rapidly minimize the deficit to eight factors in below two minutes. Seeing how a lot harm two seven-footers can do on the courtroom collectively towards a small workforce makes me want for the Spurs to get one other seven-footer.
Harrison Barnes continues to be Mr. Dependable for the Spurs, offering a stabilizing presence when the younger core wants him. His well timed three-pointers and veteran management have been invaluable. On condition that the Spurs acquired him at just about no price, this transfer must be thought-about a house run for Brian Wright. It’s additionally a constructive that Barnes nonetheless has one other 12 months left on his contract.
Initially of the season, I used to be considerably down on Keldon Johnson as a participant (although by no means on his persona), however he has gained me again over. If he can regain some consistency from past the arc, he’d test all of the containers for an excellent off-the-bench scorer. His driving recreation is super-solid.
Vassell took a backseat to Keldon Johnson from the second quarter onward, which was the correct name. Even so, it was encouraging to see 4 of his six three-point makes an attempt discover the online. It has been a down 12 months for him, so seeing him pattern upward in his most beneficial talent is promising.
It hasn’t been a down season for Stephon Citadel (how might it’s?). The Spurs’ No. 4 decide within the 2024 draft has exceeded expectations throughout the board. At the same time as a shooter, he has proven enchancment. In school, he tried simply 2.2 threes per recreation, hitting 26.7%. As a rookie within the NBA, he’s trying 4.1 per recreation and making 28.5%. Whereas his proportion continues to be low, he’s taking considerably extra pictures and making barely extra of them. He seems to be on an upward trajectory as a shooter, although final evening’s recreation was a reminder that he nonetheless has a protracted method to go. A lot of his misses are dangerous misses. Then once more, Derrick White additionally had loads of ugly misses in his early days with the Spurs – and take a look at the shooter he has grow to be! Citadel will probably be good. He’ll be superb.
