My NBA Finals Game 5 POTD💎
Stephon Castle O 6.5 Assists ( 100)
Love this spot for Castle with the Spurs back at home for Game 5. While Castle has failed to cover this line in this series, the underlying data has been there. He has had 13 potential assists in all but one game and leads the Spurs in passes made, averaging 52.5 per game.
He was well on pace to cover this line last game but ran into early foul trouble, which limited him to just 26 minutes. I'm sure Mitch Johnson made it a point to him that the team needs him on the floor in Game 5, especially in a win-or-go-home scenario.
Part of the reason I love this spot is the exact reason I loved his under points last game: the Knicks' tendency to pack the paint and not allow easy drives and finishes. So far this series, Castle ranks second only to Fox among Spurs players in drives per game. These drives create the perfect recipe for kick-out dimes.
I also believe Castle, as in the last game, will be the primary PNR facilitator in Game 5. With OG guarding Fox, it becomes more difficult for the Spurs to get the defense in rotation or in mismatches, due to OG's strength and the challenges he presents to Wemby. On the other hand, Hart has been Castle's primary cover, whom Wemby has looked very comfortable scoring against in this series.
Assuming we get a full game from Castle, and it remains close, he should have the passing volume to cash us out!