Story by
Stephon Castle reveals why Spurs wanted to ‘send a message’ early in Game 5 vs. Blazers
- Story by
- Stephon Castle reveals why Spurs wanted to ‘send a message’ early in Game 5 vs. Blazers
Stephon Castle reveals why Spurs wanted to 'send a message' early in Game 5 vs. Blazers appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
As Stephon Castle and the San Antonio Spurs move on in the NBA playoffs, now knowing that they'll next face the Minnesota Timberwolves , they do so after having delivered a message to not only the Portland Trail Blazers , whom they just beat, but perhaps for the rest of the NBA playoffs as well.
Advertisement
ClutchPoints asked the star guard how he thought his young teammates handled their first playoff closeout game.
"I thought it was probably our most professional game of the series," Castle responded. "I feel like we punched them in the chest first in a game that mattered."
Last season's Rookie of the Year, Castle is 21 years old. Dylan Harper is 20 . Victor Wembanyama is 22. The elder statesmen of their star core, two-time All-Star De'Aaron Fox , is all of 28 years old.
"Especially when they're on the ropes," Castle continued to ClutchPoints. "We're up 3-1. They're on the road, so just trying to send that message to start the game."
Stephon Castle reflects on first round as Spurs get set for Timberwolves
Though these Spurs made quick work of the Blazers to end the series in five games , their first taste of the playoffs wasn't without some trials.
Advertisement
"I feel like it brought the best out of us, especially after Game 2, where they won that game just being more physical than us, getting more offensive rebounds than us," Castle said.
With Victor Wembanyama sidelined for most of that contest because of a concussion, Portland took advantage and won a close game to send the series back to Oregon tied at one. In a pivotal Game 3, the Blazers took a 15-point lead in the third quarter before the second seed in the West stormed back behind Dylan Harper's career night .
"I feel like it was a wake-up call that we needed, especially this early on in the playoffs. So, I feel like it brought the best out of everybody," Castle said of that period involving the second and third games.
San Antonio fell behind by an even bigger margin in Game 4 before erasing a 17-point disadvantage at the intermission (the Portland lead was as big as 19 in the first half) to complete the biggest halftime deficit turnaround in NBA playoff history. The Spurs won by 21. A 19-point victory in Game 5 followed to seal the deal.
Advertisement
Immediately after, ClutchPoints asked Castle if he'd kept up with the battles between the Denver Nuggets and Timberwolves and if he was hoping that the series would go a full seven games, considering the Spurs got the winner.
"It doesn't matter to me. I think I've watched every game so far. But, it doesn't really matter to me. We're going to have to see one of them eventually, so I don't think we're needing any extra time to wait and see which one we're going to play."
Thanks to a 110-98 victory in their Game 6, it'll be Minnesota, and it'll start May 4 in San Antonio. Maybe more importantly than the match-up for the Spurs is how Castle concluded his answer to ClutchPoints.
Advertisement
"I think we're ready."
Related: Spurs' Victor Wembanyama had 'different feeling' after eliminating Blazers from playoffs
Related: Spurs' Victor Wembanyama responds to critics who call him 'too emotional, gay'
