Stephon Castle has already had to deal with two very different problems this postseason: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson.
Asked about the biggest difference between defending Brunson and Shai, Castle pointed to how differently Brunson creates pressure. He said Brunson uses angles more, leans on pump fakes, and focuses on getting to his preferred midrange spots instead of hunting fouls as much.
That is a small quote, but it is a useful Finals detail. Brunson's game can look simple from the outside because he is not overwhelming defenders with size or vertical athleticism. The difficulty is in the timing, the footwork, and the way he gets defenders leaning before he reaches the part of the floor he actually wants.
For Castle, that means the Spurs cannot defend Brunson the same way they would defend Shai. Gilgeous-Alexander puts constant stress on the whistle and the rim. Brunson is more about angles, balance, and punishing the first wrong step.
San Antonio needs Castle's defense to matter in this series. If he can stay disciplined against Brunson's fakes and still recover to contest the midrange, the Spurs have a better chance of keeping New York's offense from settling into its late-game comfort zone.
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