The best player on a winning team typically takes center stage. In the first three games of the Golden State Warriors first-round playoff series, the spotlight found Stephen Curry despite him coming off of the bench. Instead of playing a leading role from the get-go, he remained cool in patented Curry fashion. The two-time MVP didn’t demand to start. On Thursday night in Denver, Curry was selfless until the game required him to get selfish. It’s a switch few in the National Basketball Association can flip. It’s the reason why the Warriors have a 3-0 first-round lead on the Denver Nuggets.
After a quiet Game 1, Curry exploded in each of the past two. The Chef has averaged 25.7 points per game in just 25.3 minutes. After missing nearly a month with a left foot sprain, it’s almost like the time off was a blessing in disguise. Curry looked fresh in his 31 minutes on Thursday night, especially on his final basket. He wished a good night’s sleep to the nonplussed Nuggets fans:
Two possessions earlier, Curry missed a 13-foot floater that could have sealed the game. He drew a charge eight seconds later before eventually ending it. The 45-second sequence was far from Game 1 when he didn’t take a single shot in the first quarter. In that game, Curry took a backseat to Jordan Poole’s breakout game and didn’t start hunting his shot until midway through his 22 minutes. His willingness to share the spotlight, whether it’s his night or not, has affected the rest of the roster. Curry knows he can get his at any time. The threat of his inevitable explosion is almost as dangerous as the act itself. Curry’s selflessness is just as dangerous as when he gets selfish.
His aggression was palpable even before the tip-off of Game 3. When asked about him not re-entering the starting lineup, Curry slyly smiled and said, “hopefully I’ve demonstrated that at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter.” His smirk was soaked with assurance. The confidence to succeed in any role. Draymond Green said as much on his latest podcast episode of The Draymond Green Show. Green referenced Curry’s track record of dominating playoff games shortly after returning from injury – 2016 in Game 4 against Portland, for example. Whether it’s off of the bench or in his usual starting role, Curry’s transition back has always been harmonic.
His efficiency will undoubtedly diminish as his usage increases and the deeper he gets in the playoffs. Scoring over a point per minute is unsustainable. Even his three-point shooting (11-for-25, 44%) will probably wane based on the larger sample size from this season (38.0%). However, his situational awareness is constant. We’ve seen it in each of the first three games of the Denver series. Curry has been a +52 in 73 postseason minutes.
When Curry went down over a month ago, the plan was for him to be ready for the postseason. The plan has worked so far. Curry going down allowed Poole to ascend towards stardom and Thompson to find his jump shot. Both Poole and Thompson hit valleys at the end of the regular season, but are now peaking at the perfect time.
Curry maximizes the synergy of the Warriors. From the bench or soon-to-be-back in the starting lineup. The sixth-man experiment is probably over, especially with a three-game lead in the Warriors back pocket. Curry can play at his own pace and won’t feel pressure until (likely) the second round. Against Denver, he’s reminded us of the threat he’s been during his entire career. It’s the primary reason that Golden State owns a .696 winning percentage (80-35) in his playoff career. Poole has been the biggest story of this series, but Curry has had an equally important impact. Expect that to only grow as the Warriors go deeper into the postseason.
Related
