
When the Golden State Warriors announced before Game 3 that superstar wingman Jimmy Butler wasn’t going to play because of a pelvis injury, many quickly wrote off the Dubs. With “Robin” not there to provide “Batman” with support, the Houston Rockets’ ferocious defense was free to hone in on the “Chef” and throw as many bodies as possible at him. But Draymond Green knew better. He had witnessed Steph Curry’s greatness firsthand, having been teammates with the legendary guard his entire NBA career. True to form, Curry delivered another unbelievable performance, showcasing not only his lethal long-distance shooting but also his complete mastery of the court, which stunned Green and the Rockets. “He just willed us” For a moment, it seemed like the Warriors were in for a long night. They couldn’t get anything going on the offensive end and had only 24 points with five minutes left in the second quarter. With Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson swarming Steph, it looked like the Rockets had found a way to slow down the two-time MVP. But as always, the two-time MVP found a way. He started to heat up and scored 11 points before the halftime buzzer sounded to pull Golden State to within three. At that point, Dray said the team’s confidence was high; they hadn’t played well and were within striking distance of a Rockets squad that had everything going for them.
A complete ballgame
Davidson alumnus is an exceptional player with very few weaknesses. However, his most notable flaw is his tendency to be careless with the ball, often leading to frustrating turnovers. Throughout his career, he has averaged 3.1 turnovers per game. With the Rockets swarming him on Saturday, Curry had only two turnovers in 41 minutes.
With Butler listed as questionable for Game 4 on Monday, the Warriors may need their leader to become superhuman once again to secure a victory. But if Curry’s Game 3 performance (36 points, seven rebounds and nine assists) was any indication, they have nothing to worry about. “Chef” is more than capable of shouldering the load and leading his team to a playoff win.