UConn in the NBA Oct 2025

[HW611]

SGA is a high bar, but a SGA TYPE trajectory is what we've been saying, and that's certainly not out of the question.

Cade, SGA, a step above guys like Holiday, Derozan is what I'd expect.

Castle is a different player than these guys. He's not going to become the exact player SGA is, style-wise or maybe even offensive level. But being one of the top 2 way guards in the entire league for 10 years isn't out of the question, and that's what I think the projection is.

Playing with a guy who could win MVP 6 years in a row will probably keep him from maxing out with the 30 PPG to get to exactly Shai levels.

But yeah I can see a strong 26/7/6 with efficient numbers and all-defensive teams and being all-NBA in general. Wonder how many times two guys have been named 1st team All-NBA in the same year.

 

[aceboon]

The Blazers wings/guards don't see Clingan for easy lobs so often it drives me crazy. How do you not see the 7'3" guy at the rim

 

[REB1094]

Yesterday -

AJax: DNP-CD

Tyrese: 8 minutes, 3 points on 1-4 and 3 rebounds

Cam: 14 minutes, rough night with 2 points on 0-5 shooting

Castle: 16 points on 5-12 with 6 rebounds and 6 assists, but 10 turnovers (yikes). Good shooting news: 37.5% (3-8) from three. Bad shooting news: 50% (3-6) on FTs. Had a clutch 3 to go up 1 with 20 seconds left

Hawkins: 17 minutes, 7 points on 3-7 (1-4 3P so he was 2-3 on his 2s). Another very strange +/- for him, a +16 in 17 minutes in a 4pt loss

Clingan: 14 points on 4-6 (1-2 threes, 5-5 FTs!!), 8 rebounds

 

[ToolzieFan]

Yesterday -

AJax: DNP-CD

Tyrese: 8 minutes, 3 points on 1-4 and 3 rebounds

Cam: 14 minutes, rough night with 2 points on 0-5 shooting

Castle: 16 points on 5-12 with 6 rebounds and 6 assists, but 10 turnovers (yikes). Good shooting news: 37.5% (3-8) from three. Bad shooting news: 50% (3-6) on FTs. Had a clutch 3 to go up 1 with 20 seconds left

Hawkins: 17 minutes, 7 points on 3-7 (1-4 3P so he was 2-3 on his 2s). Another very strange +/- for him, a +16 in 17 minutes in a 4pt loss

Clingan: 14 points on 4-6 (1-2 threes, 5-5 FTs!!), 8 rebounds

Not to mention that Clingan helped Portland pound a Golden State team that looked awesome on opening night, and really ever since they got Jimmy Butler. Portland was a much better destination for him than I realized.

 

[Waquoit]

Portland was a much better destination for him than I realized.

They love him

 

[Waquoit]

I just read a pretty funny comp for Castle on a Spurs board: "He's like a Ja Morant who practices gun safety".

 

[Scottzer]

I just read a pretty funny comp for Castle on a Spurs board: "He's like a Ja Morant who practices gun safety".

And he’s perfect for the spurs. His post game interviews are more polished tha. I would expect someone his age - perhaps a little boring, but he does his thing on the court, and is a zero press liability in terms of creating drama or getting in trouble. So glad he went to the right organization.

 

[ToolzieFan]

They love him

I knew they loved him. I just questioned their potential as an organization. The future looks bright, and while losing your head coach tumultuous, it might not necessarily be a downgrade.

 

[Samoo]

I knew they loved him. I just questioned their potential as an organization. The future looks bright, and while losing your head coach tumultuous, it might not necessarily be a downgrade.

With Tiago Splitter as his new head coach, the world's his oyster.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Cam playing quite well

 

[REB1094]

Drummond with 7 points, 13 rebounds (in 15 minutes lol), 2 assists, 2 steals

Liam with another DNP-CD

Cam had 8 points on 3-8, 6 rebounds, 3 assists. Most of his misses were garbage time, he had 5 points on 2-3 after the third quarter when the Grizzlies went up 20

 

[Mazhude]

Drummond with 7 points, 13 rebounds (in 15 minutes lol), 2 assists, 2 steals

Liam with another DNP-CD

Cam had 8 points on 3-8, 6 rebounds, 3 assists. Most of his misses were garbage time, he had 5 points on 2-3 after the third quarter when the Grizzlies went up 20

Drummond still getting up and down the floor, and up at the basket! Love to see it!

 

[Scoe]

No team picked up Tristen Newton?

 

[aceboon]

these Castle turnovers...

 

[Gurleyman]

these Castle turnovers...

Really glad Newton stayed for a fifth year.

 

[Dibbie]

these Castle turnovers...

Yeah rough 2 games

 

[aceboon]

managing the minutes between Fox/Harper/Castle/Vassell once Fox is healthy is gonna be hell, I wish the Spurs never acquired Fox but they didn't think the #2 pick was in their sights when they made the trade

 

[Gurleyman]

managing the minutes between Fox/Harper/Castle/Vassell once Fox is healthy is gonna be hell, I wish the Spurs never acquired Fox but they didn't think the #2 pick was in their sights when they made the trade

Possible Castle may be fighting for minutes on the wing with Champagnie and Johnson more than with Fox. Spurs have the look of a team that can be a factor in the playoffs with this Wemby leap and they probably can’t be patient with a lead guard turning it over 7 times a game.

 

[HW611]

Possible Castle may be fighting for minutes on the wing with Champagnie and Johnson more than with Fox. Spurs have the look of a team that can be a factor in the playoffs with this Wemby leap and they probably can’t be patient with a lead guard turning it over 7 times a game.

At this point most know I’m big on patterns.

For curiosity sake I checked out how SGA did in his first season after CP3.

Averaged 3 turnovers a game and in his first 3 games starting he had 5, 4, and 5 turnovers. George Hill was also still on the team.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 2020-21 Game Log | Basketball-Reference.com

Get Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 2020-21 game by game stats along with wins and losses stats on Basketball-Reference.com

www.basketball-reference.com

Almost like this is just growing pains and part of developing. But sure let’s just take the first chance we get to stifle one of our own guys because of an outside opinion you want to be right about lol

 

[HW611]

managing the minutes between Fox/Harper/Castle/Vassell once Fox is healthy is gonna be hell, I wish the Spurs never acquired Fox but they didn't think the #2 pick was in their sights when they made the trade

They have to find a way to get rid of Fox for Wemby/Castle/Harper to operate like a KD/Westbrook/Harden trio.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

At this point most know I’m big on patterns.

For curiosity sake I checked out how SGA did in his first season after CP3.

Averaged 3 turnovers a game and in his first 3 games starting he had 5, 4, and 5 turnovers. George Hill was also still on the team.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 2020-21 Game Log | Basketball-Reference.com

Get Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 2020-21 game by game stats along with wins and losses stats on Basketball-Reference.com

www.basketball-reference.com

Almost like this is just growing pains and part of developing. But sure let’s just take the first chance we get to stifle one of our own guys because of an outside opinion you want to be right about lol

Why would he want to be right about it? We’re all UConn fans here lmao. Steph needs to clean it up, that’s all. Stop forcing the SGA thing in, too.

 

[HW611]

Why would he want to be right about it? We’re all UConn fans here lmao. Steph needs to clean it up, that’s all. Stop forcing the SGA thing in, too.

Then I don’t get why after everyone has been talking about all the promise he’s shown at PG and all his potential he would take the 3rd game of the season to say he should go back to playing on the wing, something the guy we’re rooting for has specifically said he doesn’t want to do. Talk about jumping the gun.

I’m pointing out clear patterns to a player our guy has similarities too. All the way down to being mentored by CP3. I’m not sure what you get out of not wanting to acknowledge them.

Having turnover issues playing PG for the first time since HS is not surprising. Of course he has to clean it up and with more experience I’m sure he will.

 

[Gurleyman]

Development is fine and dandy for a team with limited aspirations. But my point is that we are watching the Spurs leap to contender status in real time - with a unicorn who a) may or may not always be healthy and b) will be the highest sought free agent in the history of the world if he ever chooses to go that route.

The Spurs are not going to be patient with player development in this window. They are going to try to win. They will clearly make trades to win now and shore up weaknesses. Castle is versatile enough that he’ll always have a role in SA - as long as he’s not in a trade package - but if he has hopes of being a lead guard in this Wemby window, he needs to look the part. He hasn’t yet. And Harper kinda sorta did today.

Sure he’s in his second year and that’s a lot of pressure to put on someone in a new role. But you know what else has pressure? The playoffs.

We didn’t turn the keys over to Castle two years ago because we had Newton and we had high aspirations. The Spurs have Fox and high aspirations. Stakes are high and his decision making will have to be way better.

 

[HW611]

Development is fine and dandy for a team with limited aspirations. But my point is that we are watching the Spurs leap to contender status in real time - with a unicorn who a) may or may not always be healthy and b) will be the highest sought free agent in the history of the world if he ever chooses to go that route.

The Spurs are not going to be patient with player development in this window. They are going to try to win. They will clearly make trades to win now and shore up weaknesses. Castle is versatile enough that he’ll always have a role in SA - as long as he’s not in a trade package - but if he has hopes of being a lead guard in this Wemby window, he needs to look the part. He hasn’t yet. And Harper kinda sorta did today.

Sure he’s in his second year and that’s a lot of pressure to put on someone in a new role. But you know what else has pressure? The playoffs.

We didn’t turn the keys over to Castle two years ago because we had Newton and we had high aspirations. The Spurs have Fox and high aspirations. Stakes are high and his decision making will have to be way better.

If you think an organization led by Greg Poppivich isn’t going to prioritize development above all else, you don’t know Pop then. I’ll be happy to show you articles about the philosophies that made Greg Poppivich the best coach in NBA history. I did a paper on it recently. Mostly revolved around that D word.

This boards opinion on development is quite frankly, stupid. The Warriors dynasty was built on development. The Thunder last year was won on development. Nuggets too.

This idea that development is not about winning at a high level is idiotic.

Also, you know the way contract rules work is that nobody can pay Wemby more money than the Spurs. Being a sought after FA doesn’t mean anything lol

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Then I don’t get why after everyone has been talking about all the promise he’s shown at PG and all his potential he would take the 3rd game of the season to say he should go back to playing on the wing, something the guy we’re rooting for has specifically said he doesn’t want to do. Talk about jumping the gun.

I’m pointing out clear patterns to a player our guy has similarities too. All the way down to being mentored by CP3. I’m not sure what you get out of not wanting to acknowledge them.

Having turnover issues playing PG for the first time since HS is not surprising. Of course he has to clean it up and with more experience I’m sure he will.

Its not like he won’t have the ball, its that Fox will be the starting PG. The team is going to be really good and Fox is a great player, they will share the responsibility. No one is saying he’s gonna be shoved in the corner and will become an afterthought.

Again, I don’t think SGA and Castle’s games are that similar other than being big lead guards.

He played plenty of PG last year. Its not a big deal as its 3 games but it’s not really nothing. It doesn’t really have anything to do with him playing PG, I watch every game pretty much, there have been a lot of lazy passes in general. Easy to clean up.