By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-11-07 10:54:10
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2024年11月6日星期三，在休斯顿举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)（5号）带球突破上篮，休斯顿火箭队后卫杰伦·格林(Jalen Green)（右）试图阻止。 (美联社照片/Michael Wyke)
“我很冷静，”卡斯尔说道。“我知道我们的任务。我相信我们的策略，也相信我们在场上的队友。没有什么需要特别兴奋的。”
作为去年六月选秀的四号秀，卡斯尔在休斯顿的比赛中被提升为首发，以顶替受伤的杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)。
对于这位20岁的小将来说，这将是一个永远铭记的夜晚，即使他的数据统计并不那么引人注目。
在丰田中心，卡斯尔的父母在看台上见证了这一切。这位前康涅狄格大学的杰出球员尽力融入马刺队的首发阵容。
在马刺以100-127输掉的比赛中，卡斯尔仅得到5分，没有助攻。积极的一面是，在一个全队出现20次失误的夜晚，他没有出现任何失误，并且贡献了3次抢断。
“显然，他还是个新秀，所以比赛节奏对他来说可能有点快，”马刺代理教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)说道。“他需要积累一些经验，并改进一些方面，但他做得不错。”
尽管索汉预计会因拇指骨折缺席很长一段时间，但卡斯尔的首发位置可能不会持续太久。
此前因六月接受足部手术而尚未出场的得分后卫德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)即将迎来他的赛季首秀。最早可能在周六对阵犹他的比赛中复出。
作为上赛季马刺队的第二得分手，瓦塞尔预计会在回归后进入首发阵容。
无论首发还是替补，马刺队都对卡斯尔目前为止的表现感到满意。
“他拼尽了全力，”约翰逊说道。“很难对一个如此努力的孩子有任何不满。”
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) dunks the ball over San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Houston.
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, front, loses the ball as Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, left, reaches in and Spurs guard Stephon Castle, right, tries to grab the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 04: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs attempts a shot in front of Derrick Jones Jr. #55 of the LA Clippers during a 113-104 Clippers win at Intuit Dome on November 04, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 31: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates a basket during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on October 31, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 31: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots over Johnny Juzang #33 of the Utah Jazz during the second half of a game at Delta Center on October 31, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 31: Collin Sexton #2 of the Utah Jazz drives past Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of a game at Delta Center on October 31, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
点击查看原文：Spurs rookie Stephon Castle's first NBA start memorable in its own way
Spurs rookie Stephon Castle’s first NBA start memorable in its own way
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) drives to the basket as Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green, right, reaches in to break up the play during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
“I’m pretty calm,” Castle said. “I know our assignments. I trust in our strategies, trust in our guys on the court. There’s not much to get really amped up about.”
The No. 4 pick in last June’s draft, Castle was elevated to a starting role in Houston to replace the injured Jeremy Sochan.
It is a night the 20-year-old Castle will always remember, even if his stat line was somewhat forgettable.
With his parents in the stands at the Toyota Center, the former Connecticut standout did his best to blend in with the Spurs’ starting group.
Castle logged a modest five points and produced zero assists in the Spurs’ 127-100 loss. On the positive side, he committed no turnovers on a night the rest of the team coughed up 20, and seized three steals.
“He’s still a rookie, obviously, so the game is probably going a little fast,” Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson said. “He has to get some experience and shore up some things, but he’s doing a good job.”
Castle’s turn as a starter is likely to be short-lived, even as Sochan is expected to miss extended time with a broken thumb.
Shooting guard Devin Vassell, who has yet to play after undergoing foot surgery in June, is set to make his season debut soon. That could come as soon as Saturday’s game against Utah.
The Spurs’ second-leading scorer last season, Vassell projects to enter the starting lineup upon his return.
Whether starting or coming off the bench, the Spurs have liked what they have seen from Castle so far.
“He competes his butt off,” Johnson said. “It’s hard to have a problem with a kid that does that.”
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) dunks the ball over San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Houston.
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, front, loses the ball as Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, left, reaches in and Spurs guard Stephon Castle, right, tries to grab the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 04: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs attempts a shot in front of Derrick Jones Jr. #55 of the LA Clippers during a 113-104 Clippers win at Intuit Dome on November 04, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 31: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates a basket during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on October 31, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 31: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots over Johnny Juzang #33 of the Utah Jazz during the second half of a game at Delta Center on October 31, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 31: Collin Sexton #2 of the Utah Jazz drives past Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of a game at Delta Center on October 31, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News