SAN ANTONIO — An hour earlier than the alert, Stephon Citadel and San Antonio Spurs Assistant coach Matt Nielsen had gotten his palms on only one basketball.
The train was easy. As quickly as Nielsen initiated the transfer, Citadel was to grab the ball out of his palms and transfer towards the basket. No matter shot he managed to get off after his two steps was one he needed to roll with.
On the primary strive, Citadel Euro stepped into the center of the paint and let a floater go over Nielsen’s head: the whole lot was clear, though there was a bit contact.
The chief backed away and a shy smile crept onto his face.
“And-1,” he stated softly.
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The 2 repeated the identical factor a number of instances earlier than Citadel began engaged on his 3-point shot. Throughout the season, he was solely a 25 % shooter from past the arc, enjoying into the key drawback hanging over his head getting into the league because the No. 4 general choose normal.
Towards the Golden State Warriors, he did not shoot a lot better — simply 28 % from 3 — however when the fourth quarter rolled round, he was the one who bought the stops. From 27 ft, in truth.
“He undoubtedly watched Vic,” Harrison Barnes stated of the rookie after the Spurs’ 104-94 residence win over the Warriors. “It rubs off on everybody.”
On this play, Victor Wembanyama, just a few yards contained in the arc, held the ball with the sport tied at 90 factors a bit with 3:53 left. He did not see any rapid passing choices, so he pivoted and handed the ball to Citadel as he crossed the center of the sector.
Citadel obtained the ball, put his ft down and shot: again edge this time, however scores. From that time on, Spurs by no means trailed.
“That was the largest shot of the sport,” Chris Paul stated of Citadel, who completed the sport with 19 factors, three assists and three rebounds. “It was a giant blow. He simply turned 20, however he acts like he is 39.”
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A couple of video games prior, Citadel and the Spurs discovered themselves in a detailed recreation towards the visiting Los Angeles Lakers. The rookie had 22 factors in a loss and has since develop into considered one of San Antonio’s most constant items.
Past its pure development, such success appears to come back from a slight change in mentality.
“Chris Paul all the time says one thing actually attention-grabbing,” Wembanyama defined. “(He says) we must always anticipate to win. That there is not any recreation we must always go into with out anticipating to win.”
With items lacking, together with Wembanyama for 3 video games, the Spurs could not afford to take a step again. As an alternative, following Paul’s recommendation, they targeted on doing sufficient to win video games, whether or not by committing fewer turnovers or swinging the ball just a few extra instances.
“It’s one thing we’ve gotten used to,” Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson stated. “It is simply a part of the season…it is subsequent man up. It is good to see everybody embrace that.”
Towards the Warriors, Citadel confronted that cost. His massive shot might need been an instance of that, however his protection carried that effort – particularly with the project he was given.
Whereas Citadel and Nielsen carried out motion drills, Stephen Curry started to carry out his ritual pre-game warm-up routine.
Between-the-leg dribbles, high-arc layups, and even a walk-around in a soccer recreation together with his outermost layer set the stage for what he hoped could be one other evening of intense capturing.
Dealing with former teammate Paul, Curry might need discovered a way of solace on the Frost Financial institution Heart on his first go to of the season, had he not met the “39-year-old” Spurs rookie whose situation of thoughts rested virtually fully on the defensive finish.
That evening, Curry went simply 1 of three from the sector in 34 possessions with Citadel actively guarding him, or fairly chasing him, and three of 10 from past the arc general.
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The rookie could have grown up watching the four-time champion — a full-circle feeling that light after just a few possessions — however Saturday evening bought the higher of him.
“My confidence on protection remains to be excessive,” Citadel stated. “He would not let himself be shaken by successes or failures, however to do this to a man like (Curry), it undoubtedly pumped him up a bit bit. I will say that.”
The shy smile returned to Citadel’s face as he contemplated the thought of holding Curry in what ended up being San Antonio’s third straight victory; a uncommon public second of credibility in his talents. However past him, it was Paul who was maybe essentially the most relieved of all.
“Are you glad you’ve gotten Citadel now so you do not have to chase Curry?” he was requested.
“Completely,” he replied. “Completely.”
Going into the season, Paul’s main duty past the ‘hoops’ was to mentor Citadel into turning into a future long-term level guard for the Spurs. On protection, the instincts had been there, whereas the rookie’s offensive prowess was largely a piece in progress.
Seventeen video games into his rookie season, nevertheless, one factor has develop into clearer: Citadel is poised to develop into a serious a part of the contending roster San Antonio hopes to construct. That is partly on account of Paul’s teaching and partly on account of his personal work.
“The one method to be that assured is to do the work and he does it,” Paul stated. “I like that it is nothing. It is going to be good for him sooner or later.”
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“We’ve got the utmost confidence in him,” Barnes added. “As a rookie, you prefer to see a man like him step into moments with confidence.”
Thus far, Citadel’s two-way expertise have been greater than sufficient for the Spurs. That was adequate to decelerate Steph Curry and chase down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with a recreation on the road.
The one factor left? Make him adequate for himself.
And it appears he is already on that path.
“I don’t assume I’ve ever been afraid of huge moments,” Citadel stated. “Strolling away from them could be a disservice to me…and my workforce.”
