What an eventful night time in Sacramento. The San Antonio Spurs not solely made a commerce for a veteran wing in Harrison Barnes, but additionally performed their first Summer time League recreation. San Antonio’s entrance workplace couldn’t have timed the commerce any higher. Spurs followers can give attention to the shiny new participant (and unprotected choose swap) as an alternative of the 30-point beat down the Charlotte Hornets placed on the Summer time League group.
Charlotte fielded a group stuffed with second-year gamers who’ve NBA expertise. The Spurs summer time group is crammed with rookies and G League gamers trying to earn a spot. Usually within the Summer time League, groups with extra NBA expertise win – Saturday night time proved that idea. San Antonio couldn’t discover any offensive rhythm in a 97-65 loss to Charlotte.
The summer time Spurs shot simply 27.8% from the sphere and 20.7% from deep within the loss. They hit solely 62.5% of their free throws. To name it a chilly capturing night time is an understatement. San Antonio struggled to create open seems offensively, and once they did, they didn’t knock a lot of them down. In atypical trend, the Spurs solely had 10 assists to associate with 14 assists.
Three of the group’s 10 assists got here from first-round choose, Stephon Citadel. All eyes had been on the rookie as he offered glimpses of his potential. He completed the sport with 12 factors, 6 rebounds and a 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Citadel knocked down 2 of his 4 three-pointers, however shot 4 of 12 from the sphere. In accordance with Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio-Specific Information, the Spurs plan to sit down Citadel and Sidy Cissoko for his or her Sunday night time recreation towards the Kings.
Observations:
Citadel regarded extraordinarily snug with the ball in his arms on Saturday night time. He confronted stress protection from Nick Smith Jr. and was ready to make use of his deal with to maintain the ball safe. He was glorious at creating area within the choose and roll. He created offensive benefits by entering into the paint and discovering his teammates. He made some spectacular feeds to the Spurs bigs and a few candy one handed passes to shooters within the corners. His potential to run the purpose is a giant a part of his growth, and one thing to trace over the course of Summer time League.
Citadel struggled to attain as soon as he received into the paint. He was aggressive entering into the physique of Charlotte’s rim protectors, however wasn’t capable of end on the rim. At UCONN, Citadel was good at entering into the paint and ending with energy on the rim or contact within the mid-range. He nonetheless wants work on being a inventive finisher within the paint. It’s good to see him be aggressive and assertive early on in his profession. That aggressiveness additionally manifested in his willingness to shoot the ball from deep. He hit a emblem three, and a pull-up jumper from deep within the choose and roll. He must preserve taking these pictures in the summertime. Citadel’s solely turnover got here when he hesitated on capturing from deep. San Antonio can be higher off if he’s a risk to shoot it, even when he doesn’t shoot 40% from three.
Defensively, Citadel confirmed a few of what received scouts so enthusiastic about him. He wizzed round screens and caught along with his man on the ball. He received a deflection that ultimately led to a steal and basket on the opposite finish. He hustled for an offensive rebound that become a basket for the Spurs. There have been just a few psychological lapses off the ball, however that’s regular for a rookie adjusting to the NBA recreation. Citadel will want a while to be taught the ropes earlier than he can develop into the full-fledged lock down perimeter defender he regarded like in faculty.
Sidy Cissoko struggled in his first recreation since present process knee surgical procedure. He completed with 8 factors on 1 of 6 capturing from the sphere. He struggled to seek out methods to affect the sport offensively. He’s nonetheless not a risk to shoot from deep and hasn’t discovered a approach to generate offense with the ball in his arms. He nonetheless seems sturdy and athletic on the market, making him a aggressive defender. The offensive finish has to develop for him to develop into an NBA rotation participant.
Jameer Nelson Jr. had just a few good performs within the choose and roll. He was one of many few Spurs gamers that look snug working with the ball in his arms. Luke Avdalovic got here off the bench and hit a pair of threes. The summer time Spurs are going to wish all the capturing they will get. David Duke Jr., RaiQuan Grey and DJ Horne all didn’t play on Saturday. These three gamers appeared to be key elements of the squad on paper. Perhaps we’ll see extra of them when Citadel and Cissoko sit out Sunday’s recreation.
The Spurs second-round choose, Harrison Ingram, had a tough first recreation of NBA motion. He had 3 factors and seven rebounds within the loss. San Antonio gave him some ball-handling reps to point out off the flexibility that made him an intriguing second-round wager. He struggled to create separation with the ball in his arms and wasn’t capable of shake free for open seems from deep. It’s normally troublesome for position gamers to regulate to the NBA recreation. Search for Ingram to seek out methods to contribute on each ends all through the summer time.
