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He has high ceiling, but rookie should be treated as rookie 🙏🏻

Just to clear something up here, Castle was not in the starting lineup at the start of the season. It was C. Paul - H. Barnes - J. Champagnie - J. Sochan - V. Wembanyama. Castle moved to the starting lineup to replace Sochan when Sochan got injured. The lineup with Castle did very well early on when they were playing teams like Utah and Portland, and/or at home, and had a +/- of around 10, but that lineup came back to earth when they started playing better teams and/or on the road, and now has a +/- of 4. The best lineup by the numbers now with more than 1 game played together are K. Johnson - C. Bassey - T. Jones - J. Champagnie - B. Wesley with +/- of 7 and C. Paul - S. Mamukelashvili - J. Champagnie - B. Wesley - V. Wembanyama +/- 4.6.

Put Devin at the 3

Most definitely period. They are loosing in closing the game

Yes. Wemby Sochan Vassell Keldon Castle

The starting lineup is not a problem. If his defense is very approximative, Devin provides offensively. The problem is coming from the finishing lineup. Vassel is just catastrophic in Q4. He defends badly and provides nothing (no pts, no rebounds, no assists); totally invisible ! Castle has already shown that he is clutch. No question he should finish the games instead of Vassel (until Devin starts to take his responsibilities).

YES, he should start and replace obsolete handicapped CP3

I don't like Jeremy Sochan and Harrison Barnes starting together. As Rudy pointed out, a valuable part of Harrison's game is his ability to slash, or cut from the corner, and get into the paint. Jeremy takes up that space and makes that more difficult for Harrison. No ones fault, it's just a fit issue. That's why Harrison has dropped off after Jeremy came back. I think you can start: 1. Chris Paul 2. Devin Vassell 3. Julian Champagne 4. Jeremy Sochan 5. Victor Wembanyama And then your bench unit is: 1. Stephon Castle 2. X 3. Harrison Barnes 4. Sandro Mamukelashvili 5. Charles Bassey Trade Block: Tre Jones Keldon Johnson Zach Collins (Blake Wesley / Malaki Branham if necessary, otherwise continue to develop) Get the team a quality back up shooting guard / another back up big man.

I’ll take wemby sochan, jc,castle and paul

Castle tries to create offense, sometimes it doesn't work but the spurs need some energy in the forth. Wemby wants to do it all late in the game. Doesn't work

With how good wemby has been playing, and the flashes they’ve shown early in the season this team should not be satisfied with the 10th or 9th seed. Wemby is easily a top 10 player in the league rn and the pieces around him(vassell, keldon, julian) have been in the league way longer and have no excuse for inconsistency at this point

Here are my best line ups for the Spurs (I'm curious to know what you think): - Best all around line-up (Stating 5): Wemby, Sohan, Barnes, Vassell, CP3 - Best defensive line-up: Wemby, Sohan, Barnes, Vassell, Castle - Best shooting line-up: Wemby, Barnes, Vassell, Champagnie, CP3 - Best line up for the future: Wemby, Sohan, Vassell, Champagnie, Castle Notice the only 2 constant are Wemby and Vassell who are imo the only two All Star level talent we have right now (Castle will most likely get there in 2 years).

Not just castle production took a hit going to the bench, so did champagnie

Yes. Harrison would give the second unit a steadying presence

This current starting 5 is better at the start of games. Since Dev has been back we have stopped the 1st quarter slump. Castle can come off the bench for this year I think that's fine. He keeps the second unit competitive defensively. Now on the other hand, I 100% think Castle should finish games!! No question. Idk why there's so much shade on Devin. He just came back. I think you have to give him at least 10 games as a starter to start talking about consistency (Wemby's first 10 games in the season were VERY inconsistent). Devin didn't play in the summer, he just needs to get more time as a starter to get back into his flow. Putting Devin on the bench is a mistake. If you put him on the bench with this salary he becomes untradable. If ultimately Devin doesn't work out at least you can use him as a trade asset, but not if he's not a starter. Nobody wants a bench player on Max Salary. The Spurs NEEDS to get Devin to his ceiling as a starter. The Spurs have more to win by developing Champagnie in a way to keep his level of efficiency off the bench (Moneywise and ceilingwise). I think you guys get too caught up on the numbers right now. The teams we're playing now are different than the teams we played at the start of the season. Teams have seen us now, so they have defensive schemes against us they didn't have before. I think we have already worn out this initial starting line up. It was always supposed to be temporary, let's not stray from the long term goal here.

Simple. Start castle over Barnes.

We seriously need a 2 for Wemby. Vassel disappears in Big games. We need to pair him with all star PG or Wing. That would put right in contention for playoffs.

As Paul says, when a guy makes the effort to score 42 points at the opponent's, his team has to make him win, too many ball losses. He can't win the game on his own. We can see that Spurs are at a good level and can worry the best this year. Barkley says he needs two more players with more than 20 points next to Victor, to win games quietly. Young Castle seems to have that profile, and is already an excellent ball-handler.

Glad CP3 called this out. Devin and KJ oldest in Spurs uniform. Devin consistently inconsistent and MIA on big games frustrating..KJ lost in bench.. Think about it, a 20yr old carrying them. Devin and KJ should be averaging close to 20... Cmon stop being softies. 😂

Maybe not play him as a starter ....but for freaking God's sake...only 13 minutes in Philly and 14 minutes in New York is a joke and a lack of good coaching from rookie coach Johnson...as season ticket holder I am not happy at all...play him more.....idiot spurs coaching staff!!!!!

Castle has to improve his shooting and/or passing or he stays on the bench. Of course if Devin Vassell doesn't return to form or if Harrison Barnes continues to struggle that could change. You can't have a starter with a ts% of 48 and a 3pt% of 28 and a asst/to ration of 2.06 (tre jones 6.71 chris paul 4.39). Particularly not a guard. Spurs defense is actually ok now(even 3pt% except at end of games). They've got to focus on scoring and that means Castle on the bench.

Nah that second unit needs balance because if Keldon is the only scorer he'll force every shot even though we had 2 tough ones just a couple plays away from 2 wins

Babying grown men, making millions of dollars, don’t worry it’s not just the spurs organization. It’s spurs fans as well.

Sit CP3 and see what happens, he's a distraction imo

Yes! Because only one guy made a giant leap this year and that's Wemby! Others like Devin, Keldon, Tre, Malaki and Blake, you know what you're getting from these guys and it's not a lot. Their yearly progress doesn't move a needle and we can pretty much tell what their ceiling is. Wemby deserves to have an all-star if not superstar duo.

I think Chris Paul's comment is more about raising the expectations of the team, rather than a message to the team about coddling. Makes sense, he's probably tired of the narrative, in both the locker room and the media. Doesn't seem like Paul to publicly accuse the organization of coddling Wemby and the Spurs. Thats my read anyways.

Vassell and the others have to step up. No more they are young and need time. If they can do what they are expected to do, it’s better they get traded.

Stephon Castle in the starting lineup makes them a better defensive five, then Devin, in the starting lineup, he could be a force coming off the bench with the second unit . Devin is inconsistent in being a starter

Chris is right if you're not doing your job. You should be hell accountable

Coach lost the game never start two point guards that don’t rebound or box out

Some of these guys don’t have a Killer Instinct or a Junkyard Dog mentality. I’ve said it before. They need to get rid of the guts that aren’t hungry and bring some in that are. Talent will get you only so Far. Heart and Desire to win will take you to the top.

Over-rating. Pop is done, and the replacement plan has been neglected. I would be writing a massive blank check to Admiral or Dream, prop up Avery Johnson or some experienced head coach beside him. Take advantage of Wemby being a frigging alien. Sochan is ready. Get Castle up to speed. Pull the trigger on a Keldon trade for Kuminga or Zion. The Spurs are too patient. Patience is a virtue, but scared money don't make money. Time to start making some bets and writing some checks, this team is either gonna cash or bust. Get busy trying to cash.

I absolutely disagree that anything above 22 wins is a success. 23 wins would absolutely NOT be a success. I think the word you're looking for is improvement. There are too many guys on this team that are too good to turn in a sub 30 win season and call it a "success". Especially at 15 wins already. You're saying that if they win 8 more games this year (out of the remaining 52!!) that that would be successful?! I don't think the spurs are overachieving. Most of these games have been solid, non-fluky wins. Maybe the home OKC win w/o a bunch of their rotation guys was fluky. Listen to what CP3 has been saying since he got here "these are talented guys"! They just need to get a little tougher to not drop games like the last 2. For being a Spurs podcast there is often quite a bit of negative talk about the team.... I get being realistic is important, but I think you can do that in a way that is not so negative

No. This team is still young.

The team played with plenty of grit and determination. They lost by 3 to one of the best teams in the league. Chill,

Objectivity and negativity is not the same thing. The negativity of the site is tiring. 1. CP3 as the the hardass leader should say that. 2. Listing years in the league does not account for age. For the most part these are young men playing against grown men when we play the better teams. 3. This team is growing, way better than last year. 4. The problem is not the team but some of the media and fan unrealistic expectations.

I'm not understanding why he's not using castle to close out games. This is the second game. And both are losses.

Paul is wrong. I think he will realize this and apologize. The team is young. Even with Paul and Harrison they have the 3rd or 4th youngest team. People have to pump the brakes on the Stephon Castle nonsense. He has a PIE of 7 (below average) a TS% OF 48%(abysmal) and a 3p% of 28.6% (unacceptable). It's risky to have Castle and Sochan on the floor at the same time at the end of close games, and Sochan is a far superior player at this point in time even on defense. Also, the Knicks are one of the best teams in the league and the sixers had all three of their top players starting the game for a change.

I think a 35 win season would be a success. Anything over 35 is over-achieving! But anything less in my opinion is a failure.

Barnes and Vassell need to step up , the physicality wasn’t there on offense or defense

At least they aren't being blown out by good teams. They weren't supposed to win anything this year. They will soon start learning how to win close games. No issues just in the learning stage, and people are just impatient.

I expect more from Vassell, Champagne, Mamu, Johnson and Jones etc.

They should make the play in at least. They needs to grow up. Wemby needs help.

Chris was right to speak about this openly. Like the Bible says, Open rebuke is better than secret love (Prov. 27:5).

I'm heading for the exit on Vassell tbh. This is year 5 and THAT'S all he's yielding?

Paul is 100% correct.

Pop created that too young crap. In 1989-90 The Spurs almost got to the western conference finals, with rookies and 2nd year players.

They are a young team but age isn't the issue here, it's the quality that is. I think they need to get rid of a few youngsters and put some good proven players in the roaster.