NBA Finals: Stephon Castle Drives Spurs Past Knicks in New York: "We Haven't Done Anything Yet"

Stephon Castle was one of the strongest voices for the San Antonio Spurs following their victory over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. The wing highlighted defensive rebounding, the team's maturity, confidence in De'Aaron Fox, and the squad's ability to withstand the Madison Square Garden atmosphere. Despite the win that cuts the series to 2-1, Castle made clear the Spurs feel no relief: they're focused only on the next 48 minutes.

Question: What do you think was the difference in this last tight fourth quarter compared to the previous tight fourth quarters?

STEPHON CASTLE: I think finishing our possessions late with the defensive rebound. I mean, whether we were playing fast after that or slowing it down, I think just not allowing them to get second-chance baskets, especially at the end.

I feel like that's when it hurts the most. I think we did a good job closing out possessions.

Q. The three-pointer you made with less than two minutes left, Vic passes you the ball with the shot clock almost gone and you have to do something with it. What goes through your head in that situation? Is there even time?

STEPHON CASTLE: I was watching the clock the whole time. I mean, yeah, I was just waiting in case he passed it. Honestly, I was preparing to go for the offensive rebound and try to get it.

With low shot clock time, at that point in the game, I think you have to be alert and know the clock. I was just able to get enough space to let it go.

Q. This is a win of great character in front of a vibrant Madison Square Garden. How did you and your teammates come together facing the adversity of playing at Madison Square Garden, in the first Finals game here in 30 years?

STEPHON CASTLE: Just like you said, it was their first Finals game in 30 years. We expected this to be loud. I mean, before the game we said they were going to have their runs, they were going to make shots. When that happened, we had to stay together, keep our composure. I mean, really play together.

I feel like we did that for most of the 48 minutes. I think that's why we came out with the win.

Q. Even on nights when De'Aaron isn't shooting his best, he finds ways to impact the offense. How would you describe your confidence in him when the game comes down to the end?

STEPHON CASTLE: I think Fox is a very smart player. Having the ball in his hands at the end is something that gives us peace of mind. I feel like, whether he's shooting well or not, he generates a good shot for us pretty much every time.

I think his ability to attack the paint against anybody, whether it's a layup for himself, like he did at the end, or finding open shots on the perimeter, like he did especially late for Dev, all of those are huge plays.

I mean, the box score doesn't always show it. The way he's impacted our team all year is the reason we're here.

Q. Victor was here and said maybe you're the most mature player on the team. What do you think of that assessment?

STEPHON CASTLE: I don't know [smiles].

Q. Do you feel like you're the most mature player on the team?

STEPHON CASTLE: I mean, maybe I am. Honestly, probably yeah, aside from Vic. I mean, yeah, probably Vic would be number one. I'm not going to bed at nine o'clock, so…

I'm probably close, second.

Q. This series has probably been one of the most physical I can remember in recent times. What's your mentality as you continue to play? How do you keep playing through fouls while momentum goes back and forth?

STEPHON CASTLE: I mean, at the end of the day it's basketball. The playoffs have already been really physical for us before getting to this point. I feel like our previous series prepared us a bit for the physicality they bring.

I feel like we're built for it. I mean, we have a lot of players who aren't going to take a step back. We all stick together no matter what happens on the court.

I mean, us being physical for 48 minutes, I feel like it's grown, it's part of the brand of our basketball.

Q. You've put the Spurs back in the series. What's the biggest challenge heading into Game 4?

STEPHON CASTLE: Probably not getting tired of the things that worked for us, sticking with the process even when everything doesn't go right all the time. They can make a shot. They can grab an offensive rebound. Stick with our process and not get tired of it. Understand what got us this win and carry it into the next one.

Q. You seem to be at your best when you can get to the rim. You did that a lot tonight. Do you feel like the Knicks tried to make some adjustments throughout these games to close off the paint as much as they could? What do you need to do to keep getting to the rim?

STEPHON CASTLE: I wouldn't say they made too big of adjustments against us. I feel like that's just how they play, honestly. Watching them throughout the year, playing against them early in the season, they always load the paint.

I mean, yeah, just us playing to our strengths, not allowing that to slow down our aggressiveness to get to the paint. Understanding that when we're aggressive and touch the paint, it's not always for us to score. I feel like that opens passing lanes and puts them in rotation.

I think when we move the ball side to side and move it like that, especially after touching the paint, we're pretty hard to stop.

Q. Obviously there's a long way to go, but what relief does getting a win here bring?

STEPHON CASTLE: I don't know. I don't know if I'd say "relief." I feel like we really haven't done anything yet. Obviously, we're still down 2-1. We're looking toward the next 48 minutes.

I mean, yeah, whether we won or lost this game, the series wouldn't have been over for us. Obviously it feels good to win, especially on the road after losing two bad games.

I mean, yeah, I think our confidence has been the same throughout this entire series, no matter what's happened. I feel like we're just looking toward the next 48.

Q. Part of the reason Victor praised your maturity was because of the free throws you made at the end. He said he really didn't hear the crowd. There was a lot of noise. What was going through your head in that situation? Did you hear them?

STEPHON CASTLE: I mean, it felt great. Obviously you hear them. You're in the arena. I mean, at that moment it's you and the rim, honestly. We work on free throws under pressure, situations like that all the time when we're in the gym. Obviously you can't replicate anything like that.

I think just going up there and, with our will and our desire to win, I feel like it didn't matter who went to the line. I think we would've made them.

Q. It seems like your pressure on the ball and your defense denying passing lanes have taken the Knicks out of a lot of the ball movement they were doing. Would you say you did a good job in this game? How would you rate it?

STEPHON CASTLE: I mean, I have to go back and watch it. But, just looking back right now, I feel like my aggressiveness throughout the game was pretty consistent, pretty solid. I probably made a couple of bad fouls. I mean, they didn't hurt us too much. I didn't have to come out of the game because of any of them.

Yeah, just trying to use my aggressiveness but stay smart doing it. I think we did a good job.