With the final 5.7 seconds left in the game against the Celtics, the Warriors also trailed the Celtics by four points 114-118. The Warriors, who made a last-ditch attempt to win, used foul tactics to send Kemba Walker to the free throw line. At this point, the broadcast camera found Stephen Curry, who was standing to the side, his mouth crooked and his eyes blank, as if his soul had been withdrawn and wandered outside the game.
Opening the data sheet after the game, Curry's data was frozen in the sports battle of 15 of 27 shots, 11 of 19 three-pointers, and the individual scored 47 points. This was Curry's 10th consecutive game to score 30+ and made him the second warrior in Warriors history to score 30+ in 10 consecutive games after Chamberlain. At the same time, Curry is also the third player in the history of the league to play 4 40+ games in a natural month after reaching the age of 33, closely following Jordan in 1998 and Kobe Bryant in 2012.
But it was such dazzling statistics, as well as a series of records, that still could not bring the Warriors the victory they wanted, and in the end, the Warriors lost 114-119 on the road, and the pace of four consecutive wins ended. However, before the game against the Celtics, the Warriors' recent state is still reasonable. Especially in the previous away game against the Cavaliers, Curry scored 33 points despite a slight inaccuracy outside the three-point line. Coupled with the overall strength that is much higher than the Cavaliers, the Warriors also took the victory from Cleveland.
Although the two teams have long been different, whenever Curry comes to Cleveland, the glory of playing the Finals with his opponents for four consecutive years will naturally be remembered. It is also this kind of history that makes today's reality more cruel, and although the Warriors have curry, who has been in a state of greatness lately, they are still struggling on the edge of the playoffs.
It is also in this situation that many people will want to ask Curry a question - in the case of the team's number two star suffered a serious injury, not played a game for two consecutive years; in the team's selected potential inside line suffered a serious injury, this season's early reimbursement and uncertain future; in the team is only ninth in the West, with a world of difference from the 73-win situation, can not give him the opportunity to play in the Finals again - Curry can still feel the fun in today's game?
The answer curry gave to this question is not too much of a surprise. "I'm enjoying playing basketball now and enjoying this atmosphere full of competition," Curry gave this somewhat simple reply after the game with the Cavaliers.
To some extent, the "atmosphere" that Curry experiences on the field today is indeed full of competitive pressure. The game with the Cavaliers, the rookie O'Kero who was in his place, gave him a lot of pressure, plus before the game with the Cavaliers, the Warriors had just finished playing the Thunder on the road and checked into the team hotel in Cleveland, it was already 3:30 a.m. In this game with the Celtics, Curry also faced the Green Army's aggressive bag defense, and also suffered a weak foot injury in the game.
But even if all these disadvantages are invading Curry, Meng Shen, who has won the regular season MVP twice, still insists on his persistence, even if the final result is no longer the invincible disadvantage of a few years ago. His recent crazy performances have been enjoyed by even the opponent's manager.
"I have a very small part of my body and I love watching him shoot three-pointers," Celtics coach Stevens said, "as an opponent, I really don't like him, but other times I really enjoy him playing." His performance on the pitch is more fun than any player can watch, he's so creative, plus that master-level projection ability. But when you play against him, he's really what you've always felt like a needle in a haystack. You always have the feeling that you're going to be the backdrop for his next legendary performance. ”
It's just that today's Curry and the Warriors are difficult to continue their legend. From the beginning of the 2019 finals defeat, they seemed to be caught in a nightmare that could not wake up, and bad news followed. Durant's Achilles tendon was torn and Thompson's knee was severely injured, leaving them rubbing shoulders with the Triple Crown. Then in that offseason, Durant left, plus had to send Iguodala away, disintegrating the once-mighty Warriors. Last season, Curry himself suffered a palm fracture, and then before the start of the season, Thompson suffered another serious injury to the Achilles tendon, and he has not been able to return to the scene until now.
But what people did not expect was that the warriors' hard days had not yet come to an end. Just a week ago, during a game against the Rockets, warriors potential newcomer James Wiseman suffered a knee injury and had to undergo surgery to end his rookie season early. This is not only a major blow to him, but also a heavy blow to the entire Warriors.
It is also this situation of internal and external difficulties that has awakened the former Curry. The player, who has won the MVP twice, won the championship three times, and reached the Finals five times, as the Warriors' only arrow now, can only do his best. Given the Warriors' overall strength today, and their accomplishments, Curry is neither able to lead the team to the Finals nor get enough votes from media reporters to get him to be elected MVP. But when he didn't have teammates like Thompson and Durant around him, his starlight shone even brighter.
The game against the Celtics, Curry's 10th consecutive game to score 30+, but also with 10 consecutive games to average 39.1 points, he has improved his personal score this season to 31.0 points, only a slight gap of 0.1 points from the current league leading scorer Bradley Beale. This may be one of the few individual awards that Curry can strive for on his own efforts this season.
But while Curry is crazy, the Warriors' achievements are hard to say. In Curry's 10 consecutive 30+ games, the Warriors' record is just 6 wins and 4 losses. After the previous game against the Cavaliers, they had just improved their winning percentage to 50%, and after losing to the Celtics on the road, they became a team that won less and lost more. Behind them, the Spurs are tied to their winning percentage, while the Pelicans, who are 11th, are still 2.5 wins behind. If you're not careful, the Warriors could end up in a situation where they don't have to play in the playoffs — and that's obviously something Curry doesn't want to see.
This season is the 12th year of Curry's career, and although there have been many glorious pasts in the past, he himself is willing to include the past 10 games in the peak of his career.
"Statistically, it does count," Curry said, "and this season, the needs of the team are a little different for me, and I myself hope to meet that requirement at some point." Now I have an extraordinary self-confidence. I feel that I have always been blessed by Heaven to have some very special skills and skills, and I myself am constantly polishing these techniques, hoping that they will be more proficient. Now, it's all on the field, and I hope that performance can continue this season. Because that's what my team needs, what we need to be able to achieve our ultimate goal. ”
Eight years ago, in 2012, between December 7 and 26 of that year, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant also had 10 consecutive 30+ performances. Today, 8 years later, Curry is another player who has scored 30+ points in 10 consecutive games after Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant's madness during that time was also due to the team's continuous injuries and poor record. Today's Curry is somewhat similar to the situation of Kobe Bryant at that time.
And in the game against the Celtics, Curry also suffered a sprained left ankle in the fourth quarter, which added some tragic color to the image of the lone hero. "This time [the sprain] is a bit similar to what I've been through in the past," Curry said, "and I stayed on the pitch and it hurt a little bit, but I think being able to play is a positive sign." ”
Next, the Warriors' schedule is by no means easy. They're going to go away to the 76ers, who are number one in the East, and then face the Wizards, who have been in equally good form lately. Whether Curry's scoring performance can continue, and how long it can continue, has become one of the few highlights of the Warriors game today.
"Like I've said many times before, every season you face very different challenges, you go through very different circumstances, but all of that, we're happy to accept," Curry said, "and this year, we're just struggling, doing our best to keep our place in the standings, and looking forward to being able to do something on the playoff stage, or win some victory." ”