In a game which saw Wemby and CP3 step onto the court for the first time together, it was Castle who led the team in points and hustled on both ends of the floor. We saw a couple flashes last game vs OKC (including a nasty poster) but overall didn’t contribute too much statistically. This game saw what a lot of people were expecting from him: great finishing, pesky defense and hustle, a couple threes knocked down, and overall composure and pace that’s sorely needed for a young Spurs squad still trying to learn how to play together.
They won 8 of their last 15 games last season. They clearly took a leap at the end of the year. Now they added CP3, Harrison Barnes, and Castle.
I think their success this year still depends heavily on what kind of jump Wemby takes year two (and maybe Castle based on yesterday’s game).
My homer take is I think they easily have a better record than the tanking teams like Portland and Utah and have a good shot of passing some of these elderly teams like the Lakers, Warriors, and Clippers. Which leaves them in the play-in as a 9 or 10 seed not necessarily because they’re better, but because they’re healthier.