I think the spurs are trying to break Sochan. Pg last year. Center against holmgren to start the year.

Enzo The Baker said:

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I think the spurs are trying to break Sochan. Pg last year. Center against holmgren to start the year.

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I lol'd

That first stretch that Blake Wesley was in was really good. Super active on D and rebounded very well. Pushed the pace and knocked down an open 3. Good stuff.

9-0 run by OKC to close the half. Took some bad shots and let the thunder get out and run. I thought Wesley and Mamu looked really good in the first half. Malaki still looks lost on D. Castle had some good moments and also a couple of really bad turnovers. He'll adjust to the speed of the NBA game, but he looked a little overwhelmed.

Guerschon Yabusele tonight:

15 Points
100% FG
100% 3P

Only 16 minutes. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HJ4fhfk1Mh

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 8, 2024

Wemby's Robin

Castle poster slam!

STEPH ARE YOU KIDDING?!? 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/5B7FgYt7WG

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) October 8, 2024

Can't stop watching 🤩 pic.twitter.com/wkVq40WjWt

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) October 8, 2024

Another angle

Here's my prediction for game 1 starting lineup

1- CP3
2- Castle
3- Sochan
4- Barnes
5- Wemby

All I do is Nguyen said:

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Here's my prediction for game 1 starting lineup

1- CP3
2- Castle
3- Sochan
4- Barnes
5- Wemby

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Yeah, I think there isn't much doubt that will be it. Then Castle goes to bench when Vassell comes back.

Honestly if Castle can ball out in the preseason and keep it going when the regular season starts I would like to see him get the majority of the minutes over Vassell

I could certainly see Julian or Branham getting the starting nod in Dev's absence so that we don't have spacing issues.

That's what I was hoping for with his min per game idc where Castle plays so long as he gets experience

All I do is Nguyen said:

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That's what I was hoping for with his min per game idc where Castle plays so long as he gets experience

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We have any 7900 PG/SG minutes. Last year, Paul played about 1500 (58 games at 26mpg) and Devin played 2200 (68 games at 33mpg. That leaves 4200 for Castle, Tre, Blake, and Branham.

I would like to see Paul's go down slightly, and Castle and Tre to both get about 2000. But Castle can probably pull from SF, too.

I don't care if Malaki never plays basketball again. I would like Wesley to get at least 1000 minutes.

So there is a crunch there.

I think Castle starts the season on the bench regardless for a couple reasons. One is spacing issues. I put money on Julian or Keldon getting Dev's spot for shooting and corporate knowledge. The other is that if preseason sub order is any indication, he is behind Malaki and Wesley in the pecking order. Not to say he won't be in front of them later, but I think he's going to have to prove more to even crack the top 7 initially (with Dev back).

IMO Champagnie needs to be the starter until Vassel's return just for spacing reasons. With CP3 and Wemby, he won't really have to do anything more than catch and shoot and occasionally attack a close out. Keldon is better off the bench where he can be more of an on ball player attacking the paint. Castle isn't proven enough to justify getting those minutes, much less with the starting unit. I honestly think Malaki will end up being the odd man out unless something dramatically changes. He's gotta turn into a 40%+ 3 point shooter to justify putting him on the floor with his awful defense, and so far he's been streaky at best.

Spurs starters preseason game #2:
Paul-Champagnie-Barnes-Sochan-Wembanyama
Magic starters:
Suggs-Howard-F. Wagner-Banchero-Bitadze

— Dan Weiss (@DanWeissPBP) October 9, 2024

Like several of us predicted, Julian will get the start. Obviously in the regular season Pop will do some experimenting while Devin is out, but I think this will be the most common starting lineup.

My goodness... https://t.co/YzZu5gkJPG pic.twitter.com/uZzFP4Jc26

— NBA (@NBA) October 10, 2024

Castle making smart plays on both sides. Very refreshing to see from a young player.

LawHall88 said:

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My goodness... https://t.co/YzZu5gkJPG pic.twitter.com/uZzFP4Jc26

— NBA (@NBA) October 10, 2024

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The best part is Caleb Houstan thinking he could block it.

First Lob of Lob City, Texas.

CP3 ALLEY-OOP TO WEMBY 🔥

First of many for the Spurs duo 🙌 pic.twitter.com/cqoT8gO7q7

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 10, 2024

The look on Wagner's face was priceless.

https://instagr.am/p/DA7JPVFRZ0u

Enzo The Baker said:

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Castle making smart plays on both sides. Very refreshing to see from a young player.

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ROY baby.

Stephon Castle tonight:

17 PTS
2 REB
4 AST
2 STL
44.4 FG%
40.0 3P% 4/5
70.0 FT% 7/10
+8 +/-

Future star⭐️ pic.twitter.com/l7qtFRSqbX

— Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) October 10, 2024

Over a minute of Castle highlights.

pic.twitter.com/d8mwGLROj5

— @balapattyszn (@balapattyvids2) October 10, 2024

After a horribly slow start, we turned it around and battled back to pull out a win. Guys who really stood out to me tonight: Sochan, Castle, and Wesley. Those three were very active on the defensive end and were able to get a ton of deflections and steals. Sochan was able to play more naturally at the 4 and just crash the boards and attack the rim in the offensive end. Wesley is a hell of a point of attack defender. He's so good moving his feet and cutting guys off on their path. Just a pest. If he can develop a jumper, we've got a really good rotation player. Castle was sooo much better than the first game. Played at a much better pace, took care of the ball better, continues to get to the rim, and he knocked down a couple of 3s. The lineup with him and Wesley hounding their guards full court was a lot of fun to watch.

Guitarsoup said:

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Enzo The Baker said:

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Castle making smart plays on both sides. Very refreshing to see from a young player.

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ROY baby.

Stephon Castle tonight:

17 PTS
2 REB
4 AST
2 STL
44.4 FG%
40.0 3P% 4/5
70.0 FT% 7/10
+8 +/-

Future star⭐️ pic.twitter.com/l7qtFRSqbX

— Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) October 10, 2024

Over a minute of Castle highlights.

pic.twitter.com/d8mwGLROj5

— @balapattyszn (@balapattyvids2) October 10, 2024

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Like I said, if Castle continues to ball out AND he can continue it in the regular season he needs a good chunk of minutes

Appreciate the highlights, I canceled my league pass this year (kinda sad about it) and forgot to look up other methods to see it.

Something I have been really encouraged about with Castle so far, and last night was a good example, is that even though his shooting is seen as a weakness he really has no hesitation when he is open. That long 3 he hit off of the Wesley feed was very smooth, like that is the exact shot he wanted to take. You can just tell he has been working tirelessly at it.

TheNotoriousP.I.P. said:

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Something I have been really encouraged about with Castle so far, and last night was a good example, is that even though his shooting is seen as a weakness he really has no hesitation when he is open. That long 3 he hit off of the Wesley feed was very smooth, like that is the exact shot he wanted to take. You can just tell he has been working tirelessly at it.

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He was a good shooter in high school, and has always had good form.

UConn didn't need him to score so much as they were so loaded. They just needed a defensive dog on the perimeter, so he stepped into that role. I think the Spurs benefitted greatly from the fact UConn just needed a defensive lockdown guy more than needed his offense.

TheNotoriousP.I.P. said:

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Something I have been really encouraged about with Castle so far, and last night was a good example, is that even though his shooting is seen as a weakness he really has no hesitation when he is open. That long 3 he hit off of the Wesley feed was very smooth, like that is the exact shot he wanted to take. You can just tell he has been working tirelessly at it.

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He's got good mechanics so I don't really care that he's shot poorly early at UConn. The last 12 games of the regular season he also hit 38% of his threes.

I think it will be very good and consistent within three seasons

FTAG 2000 said:

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TheNotoriousP.I.P. said:

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Something I have been really encouraged about with Castle so far, and last night was a good example, is that even though his shooting is seen as a weakness he really has no hesitation when he is open. That long 3 he hit off of the Wesley feed was very smooth, like that is the exact shot he wanted to take. You can just tell he has been working tirelessly at it.

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He was a good shooter in high school, and has always had good form.

UConn didn't need him to score so much as they were so loaded. They just needed a defensive dog on the perimeter, so he stepped into that role. I think the Spurs benefitted greatly from the fact UConn just needed a defensive lockdown guy more than needed his offense.

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I wasn't paying attention and thought we were still talking about Danny Green. You kept saying UConn and I just assumed you were dumb and didn't know what "Tar Heel Triple" implied about his collegiate choices.

I don't know that I really want to pick a shooting guard, but I love mcneely.

Nm

Guitarsoup said:

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I don't know that I really want to pick a shooting guard, but I love mcneely.

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If we end up in the back half of the lottery, picking two shooters that have really good offensive feel isn't a bad deal. I'm not sure we'd pick both of them, but it wouldn't hurt my feelings either. Gotta surround Wemby with as much shooting, passing, cutting as possible.