“I still think Steph Curry is one of the most underrated players in the NBA.”
– Clippers coach Doc Rivers has high praise for @StephenCurry30 #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/vSdQFClecO
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 14, 2019
OAKLAND — Stephen Curry had himself a game in the Warriors’ playoff opener. He dropped 38 points, hit eight 3-pointers, snatched 15 rebounds, and passed Ray Allen for most career postseason 3-pointers in NBA history, after hitting No. 386 in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s win over the Clippers.
After the game, Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers heaped praise on Curry, and called the two-time MVP one of the most underrated players in the league.
“He’s great, he’s a great player,” Rivers said. “I was telling the coaching staff I still think Stephen Curry is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. I don’t even know how that happens, but he is. He’s taken for granted. All I know is when he’s on the floor, he’s a handful, and he makes them better in so many ways. He was one of their best rebounders today.”
In Game 1, Rivers decided to start Patrick Beverely, one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, on Kevin Durant, giving Curry a much easier time getting free. It will be interesting to see if that continues after Steph’s display on Saturday.
“He just does everything, he’s a great player, but we have to do a better job. He has to see us right now, and I don’t know what it was coming into the game, he was averaging 33 against us. He’s shooting like 50 percent. He has to see our jerseys and see red like a bull. So we have to do a better job and that’s on me.”