The San Antonio Spurs are tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder, 2-2, in their Western Conference Finals matchup. All series long, the Thunder's bench has been head and shoulders better than the Spurs', although the Spurs boast the single best individual.

Through four games, it's safe to say that Victor Wembanyama has usurped both Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the best player in the world. After Jokic and his Denver Nuggets lost in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves, it was pretty clear that Wemby had passed him up. In their head-to-head matchups in the Conference Finals, Wembanyama has also bested SGA, at least on an individual level.

So far in the series, Wemby is averaging 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and three blocks. The two-time MVP, meanwhile, is at 24.8 points, ten assists, and two steals.

As if that wasn't enough, Wembanyama has been a much more efficient offensive player, shooting 52 percent from the floor and 43 percent from deep compared to 39 percent and 27 percent from SGA.

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It's no secret that SGA relishes drawing contact. He led the NBA in free throw attempts for the third year in a row, with 7.9 per game. So far against the Spurs (who fouled less than almost anyone during the regular season), he's getting to the line 8.5 times per game. 

The Spurs are well aware that they can't stop him from drawing contact, but they can be smarter with their closeouts.

"Obviously, with Shai, just trying to keep him off the free-throw line like last game," summed up De'Aaron Fox. "Of his twelve free throws, one was fouling him on a 3, I think two of them were guys getting up in the air, fouling him, just trying to take out some of those bad fouls, and just trying to make him see a crowd all night. And with his twelve assists, like we were doubling a lot, and found those passes were easy. We just try to show him that it's a crowd and make him be a playmaker rather than, you know, making those plays easy for him."

The Spurs aren't fouling hard, and they aren't arguing too much over ticky-tacky calls. Instead, they seem to understand that siccing Stephon Castle on Gilgeous-Alexander is a win in the long run, even if his physical defense draws a whistle every now and again.

So far in the series, Castle is holding Gilgeous-Alexander to 46.7 percent shooting from the floor, well below his regular-season average.

"He's the best perimeter defender in the league, and he holds himself to that standard," praised Devin Vassell, who has also taken on some tough defensive assignments this postseason. "He buys in all the time, he's ultra physical, knows how to slide his feet, has quick hands, and it's just a pest the whole game."

Taking care of SGA hasn't been a problem for the Spurs, it's been slowing down the Thunder's second unit that's been a thorn in their side. In Game 4, San Antonio shied away from double-teams, allowing Gilgeous-Alexander to go one-on-one, but also limiting his passing options.

Against the likes of Castle and Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs win those matchups more often than not.