Stephon Citadel actually took an enormous leap this season, a giant cause why the San Antonio Spurs gained 60 video games and claimed the second seed within the Western Convention. He averaged 17 factors per recreation, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists on 47 % taking pictures.
The one concern coming into the playoffs although was whether or not or not his jump-shooting could be ok for the Spurs’ offense to proceed to succeed. The playoffs is the place the ground shrinks and spacing turns into crucial to success.
Citadel did present promise in that space because the season got here to a detailed, as he shot 43 % from three-point vary on about 4 makes an attempt per recreation. The query turned whether or not or not he would have the ability to maintain it and San Antonio has its reply.
Citadel has thrived not solely as a shooter, however as a whole offensive participant
Citadel has been a little bit off from two-point vary towards Portland, as he’s solely making 41 % of his two-point makes an attempt, however that hasn’t neutralized his offense. He’s nonetheless averaging 21 PPG, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, whereas flattening 43 % of his threes on 5 makes an attempt.
This contains his stellar 33-point efficiency in recreation three with out Victor Wembanyama. Citadel was in full management of the offense, en path to taking pictures 56 % from the sphere and solely lacking certainly one of his 4 three-point makes an attempt.
Whereas the Blazers have given Citadel the house to shoot, he has been making them pay and in consequence, it has opened up the Spurs’ offense. With the taking pictures menace he has offered, he is ready to assault the paint and both end on the rim or set off ball motion that will get Portland into rotation defensively.
Moreover, he has been a part of a guard rotation that has helped San Antonio tremendously. The backcourt trio of Citadel, De’Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper has given Portland matches all sequence, however Citadel-Harper lineups have been extraordinarily lethal with a +21.2 internet ranking. The Fox-Citadel pairing has not been as clear offensively, however it has not been detrimental sufficient for the Spurs to go away from it.
It’s only a four-game pattern, however Citadel has up to now quieted the noise about whether or not or not he could be an offensive legal responsibility due to his taking pictures this playoffs. The Spurs are in nice place to shut out the Blazers, as they’re up 3-1, and in the event that they do get deeper into the playoffs, Citadel should proceed the momentum he has constructed throughout this sequence.
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