His first eight games weren't great especially since he started 3/21 from three in those games. Houston in particular has defended him very well. He had them three of the first eight games and they bodied him and held him to 8 then 4 then 5.
Since then he is 12/33 from three in the past 8 games and has been in double figures every game. He's just starting to figure it out but he's playing really well after a slow statistical start.
Clingan hasn't exactly played better but since he has gotten starts but his minutes are better sorted and extended to give him more time to actually put up numbers. Slowly the Blazers teammates are starting to find him also.
Overall, I'd put money on Castle to have a chance at ROY because he is actually improving game by game. Clingan will largely depend on what the team does with Ayton when he gets back.
Castle has played 16 games so far -
First 4: 20.8 MPG, 5.0 PPG, 3.5 APG, 1.8 RPG, 1.3 STK/G (stocks per game, my new favorite stat), 2.0 TO, 28.0% FG, 0% 3P, 66.7% FT
Next 4: 20.3 MPG, 6.8 PPG, 0.5 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.3 STK/G, 0.3 TO, 32.3% FG, 23.1% 3P, 44.4% FT
then it started to click..
Next 4: 29.5 MPG, 14.3 PPG, 5.0 APG, 2.5 RPG, 1.3 STK/g, 1.5 TO, 47.7% FG, 33.3% 3P, 81.8% FT
Latest 4: 32.8 MPG, 15.5 PPG, 5.5 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.3 STK/g, 3.0 TO, 40.0% FG, 38.9% 3P, 78.9% FT
Latest 4 minus that one bad night against OKC: 32.0 MPG, 17.3 PPG, 4.7 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.3 STK/g, 1.7 TO, 45.9% FG, 54.5% 3P (6-11), 80% FT
