Game Thread Spurs (2-0) vs Nets (0-2) (Sun 10/26/25) [1:00 PM CDT]

[RC_Drunkford]

People forget how good Fox is. He will be the new HOTS who makes the offense click. Aquiring a 3-and-D PF at the deadline would make this team a title contender.

 

[O_V]

Castle is only a legit defender at the pg position, he can't guard taller guards or forwards.

What? That's an idiotic declaration to make. I've watched nearly every game of his career, and I wouldn't say there's nearly enough evidence to make a statement like that.

 

[Raven_]

he had Flagg in jail in the opener

he was playing good defense for the first half of last season where he often shared the floor with CP3... by default, Castle was not defending point guards for much of that time

yes but he was playing PG. Against tall SGs and SFs, they can just shoot over him, that's one of the reasons why we so often get crazy high scoring games from an opposing player. Not a knock on Castle, I know why people want him to play away from PG, it's because he's not as skilled as many other guys, but that doesn't make him somehow a shooting guard. I think you guys will have to get realistic about this and let Castle be Castle instead of making him Amen Thompson.

 

[PanameSpur]

This isn't toward you specifically, but it's wild to me that we finally went out and acquired a proven Top 30 player and people are talking about trading him after he's played a whopping 5 games with Wemby.

Why don't we pump the brakes and see how this all works together first?

It's cool, not taking anything bb related personally...

As I said in the post nothing can happen until February 4th so we'll see...

I don't think it's a crazy thought, you're missing the part where we need an elite/reliable forward to build for the future and let's not act as if at least of one of our 3 PGs won't (naturally) have an issue with his situation.

We can ignore/deny it until it happens or anticipate something that is unavoidable.

 

[PanameSpur]

I've said this before and I'll say it every time this comes up:

Fox is a top-tier player who specifically requested a trade to San Antonio with the intent of signing a max contract. If you are the organization and you even flirt with the idea of trading him, good luck ever getting a top player again.

I think fans who mention it are, at best, misjudging how big a mistake it would be.

I get that aspect but Fox got the most important tho... The bag.

He got paid and can also find a great situation as it's not in Spurs habit to send players they like to shitty places. (Hill went to home Indiana)

If it's not him it means it's either castle or Harper

 

[Fireball]

Shot creation is THE most important aspect of being a Superstar. You can't have enough guys which can do that. If Fox has not suddenly forgotten how to play basketball, he will stay a few years with the Spurs.

 

[Exstatic]

yes but he was playing PG. Against tall SGs and SFs, they can just shoot over him, that's one of the reasons why we so often get crazy high scoring games from an opposing player. Not a knock on Castle, I know why people want him to play away from PG, it's because he's not as skilled as many other guys, but that doesn't make him somehow a shooting guard. I think you guys will have to get realistic about this and let Castle be Castle instead of making him Amen Thompson.

Flagg didn’t shrink because he was playing PG. he’s still 6’9”/6’10.

 

[Dex]

I've said this before and I'll say it every time this comes up:

Fox is a top-tier player who specifically requested a trade to San Antonio with the intent of signing a max contract. If you are the organization and you even flirt with the idea of trading him, good luck ever getting a top player again.

I think fans who mention it are, at best, misjudging how big a mistake it would be.

Bingo. The reality of the situation is the Spurs would have been foolish to pass up on a talent like Fox who actually wanted to come to the Spurs, and they got him on a sweet deal while unloading some dead weight.

At that time, he was filling a glaring need and there is no way they could have reasonably predicted (or counted on) getting the number 2 pick and rights to Dylan Harper. And despite his Harper's good start, it's still far from guaranteed that he will reach the level Fox already has.

Yes, the fit is not ideal given Fox's extension...but it's not like the Spurs had a crystal ball. Anybody already talking about moving on from Fox after 17 games (and 5 total with Wemby) is putting the cart before the horse. Let's see what this team looks like together, give Harper a chance to learn from Fox without putting all the pressure on a 19-year-old rookie, and revisit the topic in a season or two if it's obvious there is not room for the trio of De'Aaron, Stephon, and Dylan.

 

[Raven_]

Flagg didn’t shrink because he was playing PG. he’s still 6’9”/6’10.

he wasn't contesting his shot, he picked his pocket. Very different to lift your head and see what's up compared to catch the ball and go into your usual motions.

 

[Itzsoweezee]

This is the NBA. Hard doubles from the best players in the world are a bitch, and they make you look inept. Timmy learned about them the hard way when Phil Jackson waited for the fourth quarter of playoff games to do it. I think he was a multiple MVP at that point. Vic can start learning how to handle them now. The more film they get on it now, the more prepared the team is for SPAM.

I thought Wemby was fine passing out of double teams. It was the other guys, and Sean Elliott commented on this, who seemed clueless on what to do when Wemby makes the pass.

 

[Timdunkem]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1982676683699441849

 

[Exstatic]

he wasn't contesting his shot, he picked his pocket. Very different to lift your head and see what's up compared to catch the ball and go into your usual motions.

Defense has many facets, and Castle did a great job of picking his pocket, one of those facets. The stone cold fact is that Flagg had kind of a crap night while being primarily guarded by Steph.

 

[wemvp]

yes but he was playing PG. Against tall SGs and SFs, they can just shoot over him, that's one of the reasons why we so often get crazy high scoring games from an opposing player. Not a knock on Castle, I know why people want him to play away from PG, it's because he's not as skilled as many other guys, but that doesn't make him somehow a shooting guard. I think you guys will have to get realistic about this and let Castle be Castle instead of making him Amen Thompson.

It's only 3 games, but so far I don't think it's coincidence Castle looked great at PG when his opposition at the position was Cooper Flagg, a rookie who also isn't a real PG. The 2 games against actual PGs, not even great ones, he's been a turnover machine and looks out of place.

Something tells me when Fox returns and Castle can go to being a playmaker at guard with Champ at the 3, or at the 3 with Vassell or Harper at the 2, he will start to look much better again and cut down on turnovers.

 

[wemvp]

Bingo. The reality of the situation is the Spurs would have been foolish to pass up on a talent like Fox who actually wanted to come to the Spurs, and they got him on a sweet deal while unloading some dead weight.

At that time, he was filling a glaring need and there is no way they could have reasonably predicted (or counted on) getting the number 2 pick and rights to Dylan Harper. And despite his Harper's good start, it's still far from guaranteed that he will reach the level Fox already has.

Yes, the fit is not ideal given Fox's extension...but it's not like the Spurs had a crystal ball. Anybody already talking about moving on from Fox after 17 games (and 5 total with Wemby) is putting the cart before the horse. Let's see what this team looks like together, give Harper a chance to learn from Fox without putting all the pressure on a 19-year-old rookie, and revisit the topic in a season or two if it's obvious there is not room for the trio of De'Aaron, Stephon, and Dylan.

So far through 3 games the fit is looking more and more ideal than I ever thought in preseason.

Castle struggling at PG makes it easier for Mitch to put him at the 2/3. Fox taking over lead PG duties for the season takes the pressure off Harper to have to keep doing what he did yesterday game after game as a 19 yr old rookie.

If we find out that Harper can play next to Fox, and that 37 percent catch and shoot 3s translates from college, it will be an almost ideal fit for at least 2 seasons.

If Harper shows he can start consistently doing what he did yesterday to teams that aren't filled with rookies in the back court, and even against the best teams in the league, then it becomes a log jam as both PGs would be too good to be backups. That's when a decision will have to be made.

 

[BSfromTX]

Castle can guard the 3... may not be ideal, but if it means more time for Fox and Harper, then you deal with it. It will happen until we get a legit 3&D SF.

 

[Spurs Homer]

Only spurs fans dream up unnecessary wild nonsense trades for made up future scenarios...
before Fox even starts his season...

pump the brakes guys...no reason for at least 3 years to "get rid of castle, get rid of fox, harper is a sure hall of famer, we need this we need that...after 3 games of the season...''

I think you got so used to off-seasons and summer trade debates and draft debates and blockbuster deals in the making...that you are now bored watching this team play ball and WIN!

lol

 

[Ice009]

It's not against Fox it's by pure logic and need.

We have a huge talent hole at the forward position and reliable shooters to fill if we want to be real contenders.

Whatever we'll lose with Fox we'll gain with a reliable wing, hopefully who can shoot.

And I personally think Castle is a PG, unorthodox but who'll always be a tough matchup for PGs and versatile bc of his body type. He's only 21 and look at his presence and impact already.

This isn't toward you specifically, but it's wild to me that we finally went out and acquired a proven Top 30 player and people are talking about trading him after he's played a whopping 5 games with Wemby.

Why don't we pump the brakes and see how this all works together first?

I've said this before and I'll say it every time this comes up:

Fox is a top-tier player who specifically requested a trade to San Antonio with the intent of signing a max contract. If you are the organization and you even flirt with the idea of trading him, good luck ever getting a top player again.

I think fans who mention it are, at best, misjudging how big a mistake it would be.

I was going to reply to that above post by PanameSpur, but you guys already said it very clearly.

I will say it again for all the people trying to trade him - FOX-IS-GOING-TO-BE-AWESOME for the Spurs. Let him play at least 10+ games with Victor and you'll see it IMO. They haven't played together much, so just give it a bit of time when he does come back. He's going to be electric.