Devin Vassell uplifts Stephon Castle with bold statement Spurs fans can get behind

The Spurs' massive Game 4 victory was due to a dominant defensive performance that held the Thunder to just 82 points. Stephon Castle's effort on that end was a massive driving factor, and even his teammates took notice.

Vassell's comments are extremely high praise, but they're true. Castle was a nuisance to OKC's offense for the entire night, keeping Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in check while also flying around the court to make pivotal defensive plays.

For the life of me, I don't understand why Stephon didn't make an All-Defensive team this year, but oh well. His performances as a stopper this postseason speak louder than any accolades or trophies, and without him, the Spurs aren't where they are.

Stephon Castle's physicality is perfect for this series

Devin Vassell said it best. Castle is "ultra-physical" on defense, and there's no better way to play on that end than that in this series. OKC is known for its aggressive defense, and Stephon is just bringing the same energy.

There were several possessions in Game 4 when his intensity bothered Thunder players, particularly Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He pressured the MVP multiple times, which led to difficult, contested shots or turnovers.

There was an amazing second-half play that just about summed up his night. He picked up SGA at half-court, closing off his air space and forcing him to dribble the ball off his leg and out of bounds. That led to one of his four turnovers.

Now, there can be some downsides to this physical approach. Stephon did get into a bit of trouble tonight, posting five fouls, which was the exact same amount he had in Game 3. The aggressiveness has its perks, but finding a balance will go a long way for Castle if he wants to stay available for his team in big moments the rest of the series.

What we're seeing from Castle is no surprise

The defensive display Stephon put on in Game 4 was not a one-time thing. Instead, it was a continuation of what Spurs fans saw all season long. He excelled in guarding elite offensive players at the point of attack, so it's no surprise that he was able to slow down the MVP.

Last night's performance was just further proof that the sophomore guard should have made an All-Defensive team. Few players across the Association were better when it came to matching up individually against the league's best perimeter scorers than Castle.

But the lack of recognition isn't fazing Stephon. It's almost as if he took a glance at the list, shrugged it off, and got right to the business. For a guy like him, this sort of stuff is fuel to the fire, pushing him to perform at an even higher level.

Outside of the fouls, Castle needs to replicate everything he did in Game 4 into the rest of the series. If the Spurs want to advance to the NBA Finals, they must get another show-stopping defensive performance from their second-year star.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow