What is the story about?
How was the All-Star Weekend? As per always, I watched none of it. The only thing I really saw was an in-game dunk by Jaxson Hayes during the Slam Dunk Contest. Admittedly, I kind of loved that this was the moment that went viral. In a way, it exposed the shallowness of what the All-Star Weekend is: a marketing event.
There’s really only one thing I hope for each All-Star Weekend: If any Spur takes part — or rather, has to take part — please let him return uninjured. On the other hand, I kinda like
the All-Star break. Because after a full week without watching basketball, I’m hungry to watch some real basketball again.
So without further ado, let’s get into the Spurs’ win over the Phoenix Suns last night:
Takeawaways
- One and a half years ago, Stephon Castle was the fourth pick in what many labeled a role-player draft, supposedly void of tier-one or tier-two prospects. Eighteen months later, he’s becoming the bedrock of a team that wins more than twice as many games as it loses.
- This is Victor Wembanyama’s team – there’s no doubt about that. But Castle increasingly feels like its engine. He brings the ball up with that low, controlled dribble; his decision-making keeps improving to the point where I currently trust him more than both Wemby and Fox with the ball; and defensively, he’s constantly engaged.
- One sequence in the middle of the first quarter captured the full Castle experience: He attacked from the top of the key into the waiting arms of 7’1” Mark Williams, upfaked three times, rose up, and scored over him. Seconds later, he picked up Devin Booker at half court and defended him well. He went from expertly running the point of attack to expertly defending it — within the same possession cycle.
- Yes, he’s still flawed. Sometimes the three isn’t falling. Sometimes the turnovers pile up. Neither was an issue last night, but he did pick up five fouls. The encouraging part? These are areas players typically improve in. Present-day Castle is already very good. The trajectory is what makes it exciting. And by that I also mean: Please let him return from all the future All-Star Games he probably will take part in.
- The Spurs have one of the better second units in the league: Keldon Johnson had an unremarkable game, but he’s having an excellent season overall and didn’t need to force anything last night. Meanwhile, Luke Kornet might be every head coach’s dream backup center: protect the paint, clean up, convert putbacks, avoid mistakes. He embodies that role perfectly – and he even has a clever pass in him.
- The star of the second unit, though, was Dylan Harper. There will come a point – and it won’t be far off – when it feels unfair that he’s coming off the bench. Unfair in the way it once felt unfair for opponents when Manu Ginóbili came off the bench: things didn’t get easier; they got harder.
- Harper already has that effect. No one on the roster can match his driving game – not even De’Aaron Fox. Harper attacking the lane sometimes looks like a slalom skier carving through gates (yes, I’ve been watching winter sports lately) – the ease with which he changes direction is a thing of beauty.
- Harper’s three-point shot? Not quite as beautiful, but not completely ugly either. The release point is still worryingly low, but otherwise the mechanics look okay to me. And it doesn’t take him too long to get his shot off.
- The question about Harper is this: When will the point come at which he can no longer be kept on the bench? It’s a good thing the Spurs have De’Aaron Fox. His willingness not to be the clear-cut primary ballhandler in the starting five deserves praise — just as much as his ability to slide into the number-one option role when needed. Still, Harper won’t be a bench player for the duration of Fox’s next contract.
- As mentioned, the only skin I have in the All-Star Game is that Spurs players return uninjured – Fox did, Wemby did. And frankly, after what Dillon Brooks recently had to say about him defending Wemby, maybe the best thing about last night’s game was that Brooks was out, suspended. I didn’t miss him. Instead, on the way to the Spurs first playoff participation since 2019 (GSG!!!), I enjoyed a game with highlights that only Wemby can produce.
