OAKLAND — When we watch documentaries on the Golden State Warriors 20 years from now, the way Steph Curry and his team are closing out the 2017 regular season could legitimately be the turning point in a budding dynasty.
The Warriors have been molly-whopping NBA teams the last three seasons, but rarely have they ever looked this in control. Over the last 12 games they’ve…
-Led the league in field goal percentage (51.2), 3-point percentage (41.8), offensive rating (115.7), defensive rating (97.1), assists (31.4), blocks (7.8), +/- (15.8).
-Only had one close game in the fourth quarter against Philadelphia. Nine of the wins have been by 10 points or more.
-Played and won all five games in one of the toughest stretches on any NBA schedule this season — Memphis, at Houston, at San Antonio, Houston, Washington. Closing out the season 16-0 looks realistic.
While everyone is hellbent on figuring out how exactly Kevin Durant fits back into this elaborate puzzle Saturday against the Pelicans, there’s an revelation going on, an aspect that’ll likely determine who wins the NBA Finals.
Steph Gonna Steph is happening on a nightly basis, the Warriors feed off his tricks with basketball, and the rest of the league are victims in a path of destruction. Curry has rediscovered his edge.
The phenomenon, coined by Warriors social media guru Julie Phayer back in October of 2014, is not measured in statistics. It’s a cocky brand of basketball where Curry actively looks to humiliate an opponent to the point they get bitter and emotional on the court and during interviews. Juking Marcin Gortat out of his shoes and Curry’s around the back pass to Andre Iguodala came during dizzying scoring runs. Brandon Jennings used a meaningless 3-pointer from JaVale McGee as an excuse. It was really an exasperated retaliation for Curry repeatedly dancing on Washington’s grave with joy. Steph Gonna Steph moments almost always translate into wins.
“He’s an arrogant basketball player,” Steve Kerr said. “That’s why we love him.”
A month ago, the Warriors were 2-5 in their first seven games without Durant. Instead of grabbing the torch, Curry was pressing on the court — a wicked East Coast road trip didn’t help. Curry dislikes the use of the word slump, but he and the Warriors had thudded into a brick wall.
Now? Curry won’t win his third straight MVP award, but he’s playing basketball at a higher level than any of the three contenders. The incredible part is he’s averaging 18.2 shots per game during this 12 game win streak, the same amount he has been all year. His usage rating is only up .9 percent, too, meaning it’s not more touches generating the productivity. This isn’t the 400 3s in a season guy from a year ago, but Curry is looking to be innovative with the ball and it’s working.
Some numbers for you.
Total season: 3-pointers made (4.0), 3-point percentage (40.1), assists (6.6), net rating (16.7)
Last 12 games: 3-pointers made (4.7) 3-point percentage (45.9), assists (8.0), net rating (21.6)
That’s why this stretch of basketball will be a compelling chapter in the Warriors’ story. We needed to see this Steph Curry before the postseason. Hell, Steph needed to see this Steph Curry before the playoffs. Again, it’s rooted more in the cocky brand of basketball he plays when he’s in control, and not scientific data.
The truth of the matter is Steph Gonna Steph was not occurring at at high frequency earlier in the year. As the season started playing out, it was Curry who had the biggest adjustments to make on the court, specifically when it was time for him to take over. Durant’s consistency was lovingly embraced with open arms, pushing Golden State’s MVP point guard ever so slightly to the side. The stats showed Curry was still mostly lighting up box scores, but the alpha dog moments were missing. Late-game losses, especially in Cleveland on Christmas Day, raised some eyebrows.
And here we are today. Without Durant, Curry has reclaimed his basketball arrogance and the Warriors have rarely, if ever, looked better. While the explanation for the surge in Curry’s play doesn’t matter as much as the result, it’s still worth musing about.
Was a reassurance of confidence necessary? Up until now, Curry really hadn’t thrived on a stage without Durant since the Western Conference Finals last May, and even then, Klay Thompson stole the show in Game 6. Meanwhile, KD was the headline player at the Olympics and was pretty clearly the Warriors’ MVP until injuring his knee Feb. 28. Kerr admitted Curry had the biggest adjustment and there were times he seemed tentative to cut it loose. There seemed to be more thinking on the court from No. 30 and less aggressive creativity.
That’s the key word here, creativity. Curry is now purposely pushing boundaries on offense instead of making sure Durant’s toes weren’t stepped on.
“It’s a bang-bang play,” Curry said about embarrassing Gortat. “You try something and see if it works.”
It’s working, Steph. Everything is working, including the bench. Andre Iguodala is riding a wave directly toward the Sixth Man of the Year Award. The refurbished unit starring Matt Barnes, JaVale McGee and David West are all touching their ceilings as players in Golden State. It would be careless not to mention Thompson, the complimentary sultan of swish, who has scored 20 points in 13 of his last 14 games. Steph Gonna Steph has a sweeping impact on the entire team.
The argument that the Warriors are better without Durant is irrelevant. The argument that matters is this: Can Steph keep Stephing at a high frequency next to Durant? Golden State can win games without playing Curry’s exact brand of basketball. Kerr’s job is to find a happy medium. There will be pressure on Durant to adjust, and pressure on Steph to keep performing at this high of a level.
“We don’t need (Durant) to fit in,” Draymond Green said, “we need him to stand out.”
The Warriors aren’t beating the Cavaliers unless Steph is dominant. And, theoretically, Steph is more dominant if he has confidence in his creative scoring genius heading into the playoffs.
That’s why the end of this regular season could one day be deemed a turning point. Durant’s injury has been a blessing in disguise for Curry’s killer mentality.