We have seemingly countless ways to keep close watch on the brightest stars in the NBA. From ESPN, TNT, TBS, NBA.com, YouTube and numerous other outlets, there’s no shortage of highlights, mixtapes and Top 10 countdowns showing off the best of the best.
Even still, stars outside New York City and Los Angeles can often fly under the radar. Despite the instant oohs and ahhs created by “Top 10” plays, many NBA stars don’t become bona fide superstars until we see them do it consistently in prime time, pressure-filled, playoff situations.
Enter Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
The 6’3” sharpshooter has arguably been the most exciting player in the playoffs this season, averaging 25 points, 8.3 assists and shooting the longball at an impressive 43 percent. It’s not just the numbers that make Curry stand out, it’s also the way he’s accumulating them.
Curry, who broke Ray Allen’s record for most three-pointers made in the regular season, dials up shots from deep as if he gets extra points for degree of difficulty. All postseason Curry has drained three-pointers in every way imaginable. We have seen runners, fadeaways, double-teamed, one-legged, fast break, step backs, step unders and more.
He’s just as unpredictable taking it to the rack too, and he’s shown off an impressive array of acrobatic finishes while driving to the basket. Whether off the dribble, off-screens or spotted up, Curry can get buckets. Of course, the most impressive aspect of his game is that the Warriors keep winning.
The sixth-seeded Warriors were barely a blip on the playoff radar when the postseason began. They found themselves far behind the Thunder, Spurs, Lakers, and Clippers in terms of media coverage.
In their first-round matchup with the Denver Nuggets, they found themselves as an underdog to the 2012-13 Coach of the Year George Karl and his most promising team in the post-Carmelo era. After sending Karl and his hardware home in six games, the Warriors now find themselves within reach of the Western Conference Finals.
Curry stepped up big in Game 1 of the second round by dropping 44 points on Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs in a close defeat. Since then, he’s led the team to two victories over one of the Western Conference favorites. Yes, young Steph has arrived.
The team’s success has come despite the fact that All Star David Lee has been sidelined significantly due to a hip injury. Speaking of injuries, Curry has been undergoing treatment for his achy ankles the entire playoffs. Still it seems that he’s too preoccupied with breaking his opponents ankle’s to notice the pain in his own.
With every crossover, spin move and trap-busting play Curry makes, he’s making it clear to nationwide fans what folks in the Bay already knew. The kid is a beast.
Back in February, he was left off the All Star team and universally recognized as the snub in 2013. Now he’s thumbing his nose at the silly voters who overlooked him and putting on a show every single night.
With no apologies to Baron Davis, Curry is the best point guard Golden State has seen since the legendary Tim Hardaway crossed over and two-stepped the competition back in the ‘90s.
Now that Curry’s 2014 All Star selection is almost certainly a cinch, the 25-year-old is essentially playing with house money. With each win the Warriors accumulate, his star power grows. Plus the rash of the injuries in the postseason mean if the Warriors can get past the Spurs, the West is wide open. For a guy with a sweet stroke and a lightning-quick release, any wide open space is an invitation for death by the deep ball – at the hands of Steph Curry.
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