"Stephen Curry is the greatest sixth man in playoff history," Nuggets coach Malone said in an interview after the Nuggets' second-game loss to the Warriors.
In yesterday's game, Curry played 23 minutes off the bench, 12 of 17, 5 of 10 three-pointers, a maximum of 34 points, and 3 rebounds and 4 assists, plus or minus +32 team-high.
Curry also became the first player to score more than 30 points in the playoffs since 1954 without playing 23 minutes.
He scored his 3,000th career playoff point in this game, the warriors' first in history, the fourth in active duty, and the 27th in NBA history. 34 points is the Warriors' second-highest score on the bench in the playoffs, and the highest score is 40 points, which Curry also got.
Fans with impressions should remember that in the 2016 playoffs, the Warriors vs. the Blazers, Curry also came off the bench after returning from injury, and then hammered the Blazers in overtime, which may be the greatest overtime performance in NBA history.
In the first game, Curry did not shoot in the five minutes of his appearance on the bench, and he constantly tested his ankle weight-bearing ability on the field. It wasn't until the end of the third quarter that it gradually opened fire, and the ball scored 16 points.
Curry only scored 16 points, but the Warriors still spent the Nuggets, because Poole, who started in place of Curry, scored 30 points on 9-of-13 shooting. So in the second game, Kerr is still at ease to put Curry on the bench.
Yesterday Curry was clearly more adaptable to the game than the first game, and his shot returned to the previous swift state, a 3+1 ignited the Warriors' home court. The Warriors played the whole team in a cloudy offense, and the Nuggets were spent in the third quarter.
Curry's state recovery can be predicted, but Poole's continuation of the first fiery feel is still unexpected by many people. Yesterday Poole had 29 points, 5 of 10-of-10 three-pointers, 29 points, five rebounds and eight assists, and partnered up with the starting Thompson who scored 9-of-19 and 21 points.
So what lies in front of Kerr now is a happy annoyance, whether to continue to let Curry replace and maintain the current rotational state; or to let poole, who is in hot form after the start, return to the bench and disrupt his playing time.
The possibility of having three people start at the same time is not impossible, but in the first two games, the Warriors have suppressed the Nuggets and cannot take the initiative to change the team. Besides, a pure small lineup for Jokic is not a good choice.
Asked when Curry would be able to return to the starting lineup, Kerr said: "Obviously, Curry's situation as a substitute will not last long, depending on how long he can play and the feedback from the trainers. ”
As things stand, Curry is likely to be a substitute in the next game. When Poole's shots feel down, Curry will return to the starting line and end his performance as the greatest sixth man in history.
A star of Curry's caliber, after an unparalleled career, still maintains a humble mindset and is willing to make sacrifices for the team, even two consecutive games as a substitute.
Only in the Warriors, only in Curry, you can see this.