Spurs rookie Stephon Citadel has been on the rise over the previous few weeks, and it continued to kick off All-Star weekend within the Rising Stars Problem.
Beginning for Staff C in Recreation 1 alongside Zach Edey, Keyonte George, Dalton Knecht and Jaylen Wells, Citadel’s crew obtained out to a 19-7 begin and by no means trailed, regardless of permitting Staff T to make it attention-grabbing just a few occasions. Citadel himself principally performed the function of play-maker with a number of good assists and hockey assists to arrange his teammates in transition, plus an almost-windmill dunk wherein he misplaced the ball on the best way up, however his ahead momentum nonetheless in some way despatched the ball in.
He completed with 6 factors, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, together with the game-winner to ship his crew to the Recreation 3, 40-34.
Staff G League upset Staff M in a way more aggressive Recreation 2 to arrange the finale. Citadel as soon as once more began Recreation 3, which was a case of relaxation vs. rhythm. Citadel helped get his crew up off the mat by driving to the rim, however general Staff G League took benefit of being in rhythm, getting out to a 12-8 lead. After the timeout, Citadel performed a significant function in his crew shaking off the rust and happening a 17-2 run to win the sport 25-14, once more helping the sport winner, this time to George for the three.
Citadel completed the sport with a team-leading 12 factors and a couple of assists and was awarded MVP of the Rising Stars Problem. With the win, Staff C advances to play because the fourth crew within the All Star sport on Sunday, which means he’ll now seem all three days of All Star weekend, together with tomorrow within the Slam Dunk Contest. Steph is off to a sizzling begin, so keep tuned!
Different observations
The sector announcer described Citadel as a “play-making, point-of-attack defender” within the intros, which is correct, however then he described Edey as a “critical candidate for Rookie of the 12 months”. I hate to say it, however Edey isn’t even the favourite for ROY on his personal crew. That will be Wells, however regardless, as of now, Citadel is working away with it.
Having seen him in each faculty at Arkansas and now two years with the Orlando Magic, I barely acknowledged Anthony Black along with his hair braids. I solely know him along with his free flowing fro, so his face was barely recognizable when it was totally seen.
In Recreation 1, Alex Sarr hit a 3 whereas Edey was contesting. Seven-footer on seven-footer crimes on the perimeter was remarkable, and it’s nonetheless uncommon when you think about that facilities don’t typically guard the perimeter, even when it’s their very own man, however it’s turning into extra widespread with gamers like Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama main a brand new period.
“Protection-optional” has reached the Rising Stars problem. I get that gamers don’t wish to harm one another or themselves, however it is not going to make Adam Silver blissful. I’ve by no means been an enormous fan of All Star Weekend, and this doesn’t assist. (In equity, the defensive degree picked up in Recreation 2 and carried over to Recreation 3 since there was extra to play for. Hopefully that carries over into the precise All Star sport.)
The Thompson twins had been a pleasure to look at collectively and had been arguably the co-MVP’s for Staff M, however Ausur largely value them Recreation 2 to Staff G League after he missed 4 straight free throws, all hitting the entrance rim. Together with one other miss from Toumani Camara, Staff M missed 5 straight FT’s whereas sitting at 35 factors. Making them would have received the sport, however as an alternative, G League made the comeback, successful on a contested three-pointer by Bryce McGowens to arrange Recreation 3.
