The hype surrounding Steph Curry’s chase of Ray Allen’s all-time 3-point mark will crescendo Tuesday in New York City at Madison Square Garden when the Warriors face the Knicks. Curry sits just one 3-pointer behind Allen’s career mark of 2,973 made 3-pointers and is poised to break it on basketball’s center stage.
Count Draymond Green among the players who’s eager to see Steph break the record.
“I’ll be happy as hell when it’s over,” Green said after Monday’s 102-100 win in Indiana. “When it gets in, he got it. Ultimately I think he’ll end up beating this record by a thousand-plus threes, so I’ll be happy when it’s behind.”
While Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he thinks Curry is “trying a little bit too hard” to surpass Allen, Green characterized it differently.
“I don’t think he’s pressing per se for the record, I think it’s probably on his mind every shot he shoots,” Green said. “Especially a three. Naturally, as a human being, you’re going to think about it. I do think he got himself into a little traffic over the last couple games, over penetrating, but if you’re over penetrating into the paint that’s not for a three.”
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The microscope has intensified on Curry since last week’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, when he was 16 3-pointers away from passing Allen. In the three games since, Curry is a combined 14-for-46 (30.4 percent) from 3-point range. Green said he doesn’t think Curry’s pursuit is affecting the Warriors’ offense.
Green said Warriors haven’t done a good job of creating transition opportunities by turning the ball over, forcing Golden State into a lot of halfcourt sets the past few games.
“Are we looking for him a little more?” Green asked. “Maybe, but I know analytics is heavy. I would love for an analytical guy to go see if he’s getting the ball more than he normally does. I don’t really think so. We can be better. But if we’re playing against a set defense every time, Steph’s going to have the ball. That’s our offense, really built around Steph.”
Green said he hopes Steph doesn't wait around to break the record.
"Everybody just wants to witness history," Green said. "I'm sure it'll be electric. Hopefully he makes the first two threes he shoots in the first quarter. Then that's it."
