Steph Curry doesn't need much space to make a defender pay. Many a man has chased him all around the court, hounding him on every possession. Curry may catch the ball and the defender will play solid defense on him for the final 10 seconds of the shot clock. However, it takes the slightest of dribbling moves and Curry has the inch of space he needs. Once he has that inch it's game over. The Golden State Warriors guard has lit up the NBA Playoffs this season and has left fans breathless while leaving defenders frustrated.
Golden State was a mental lapse on defense away from stealing Game 1 from the Spurs in San Antonio last night. While they lost 129-127 in double overtime, it's not because Curry didn't produce. He finished the night with 44 points on 18-35 shooting and also had four rebounds, two steals and 11 assists. Stars come out when the lights are brightest and that's exactly what Curry has done this season.
If you didn't notice him during the regular season when he dropped 54 at Madison Square Garden or when broke the single-season record for three point field goals made, then he has made you notice now. His numbers are up in the postseason and he has led the underdog-Warriors to the conference semifinals. Overcoming the Spurs will be a tall task, but when the Warriors have the benefit of a man who seems to always be hot then anything is possible. Twice this postseason Curry has poured in 20-plus points in a quarter.
You want an MVP for the playoffs? Look no further than Curry. The Warriors are an exciting, young team, but they were not supposed to beat the Denver Nuggets. Denver finished 57-25 in the regular season and Golden State's David Lee was injured in Game 1. However, Curry hit shot after shot and when he wasn't scoring he was dishing out assists. That's the brilliant thing about him. During his magical run with Davidson in the NCAA Tournament he was viewed as a shooter. Now, he is a scorer. The difference being that before defenders really needed to focus on the jump shot, but now he can get to the rim and create more for himself. On top of that, he has become great at creating for others. In the playoffs he is averaging 9.6 assists.
Whether or not he is a pure point guard is a debate for another day. Right now he is the best point guard still playing basketball, but questions remain about his health. He has a history of ankle issues and he did roll his ankle in the Denver series. Playing 58 minutes last night can't help his case, but for now he seems fine and the 44-point outburst clearly illustrates that. He leads the NBA postseason in assists and is currently third in points per game and fourth in steals per game.
Steph Curry is an elite player. Every star needs a coming-out party and Curry is using the entire postseason as his platform. There's no telling how far this Warriors team could go. While they do seem like a long shot to defeat the Spurs, you simply can't count out Curry's uncanny ability to go off when his team needs it most. And remember, if you give him just an inch he will make you pay.
Outstanding young player who seems to be a good role model off the court as well.
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