The San Antonio Spurs are marching towards the postseason, and Stephon Castle hold the key to their success in their first playoff apperance since 2019.
The San Antonio Spurs are marching towards the playoffs and could very feasibly snatch the top seed away from the Oklahoma City Thunder before the season ends. However, until the Spurs can prove that they can win a seven-game series, their lack of experience will be a key doubt held against them.
Of course, the youth on the roster is not the only concern the Spurs should have. This season, they have been a mediocre 3-point shooting team, and their trio of ball-handlers (De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper) aren't exactly snipers.
As teams try their best to gameplan around Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs' lack of consistent 3-point shooting remains an issue. Luckily, recently, they seem to have solved it.
Stephon Castle Is Spurs' Most Important Player
This season, Castle has emerged as a star, averaging 16.5 points and 7.1 assists per game, all while being one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.
However, there's a reason why he wasn't an All-Star. After shooting only 28.5 percent from 3-point range last season, he's improved, but only to 31.5 percent. That's well below league average, and he isn't the only Spurs guard who struggles.
"Their biggest Achilles heel in the playoffs could wind up being their lack of shooting," predicted ESPN's Tim Bontemps. "Their three dynamic guards -- De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and rookie Dylan Harper -- are all below-average 3-point shooters. When teams get into the playoffs and get a chance to game plan for San Antonio, expect them to double off Castle, in particular, and force him to make shots."
Over their last 20 games, Castle has improved to 38.2 percent from deep and is shooting with gusto and confidence. Harper, meanwhile, is at an elite 44.6 percent from 3 in the same span, although he still struggles off the dribble.
Fox, meanwhile, hasn't gotten as hot as those two. However, as Castle takes more shots and makes more shots, expect the Spurs to keep feeding him, even when they have less room for error.