Friday night may have been the best performance of Stephen Curry‘s Hall of Fame career, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic. With the Warriors in danger of falling behind 3-1, Curry delivered 43 points with seven three-pointers, 10 rebounds and four assists to pull out a victory in a hostile atmosphere.
It was a defining game for Curry, who has yet to win Finals MVP honors despite having three rings. More remarkably, it came two days after a foot injury that led to questions about how effective he could be for the rest of the series.
“Incredible,” Draymond Green said. “Put us on his back. Willed us to win. Much-needed win. Game we had to have. Came out and showed why he’s one of the best players to ever play this game, you know? And why … this organization has been able to ride him to so much success. It’s absolutely incredible.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Kevon Looney was replaced by Otto Porter Jr. in the starting lineup for Game 4 as coach Steve Kerr focused on spacing, but Looney was able to exploit his size advantage when he checked in, observes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. After playing just 17 minutes in Game 3, the big man logged 28 minutes Friday night with six points and 11 rebounds. “Loon is just crucial to everything we do,” Kerr said. “He’s our best screener, our best rebounder. One of our smartest players. He’s always in the right spot. He made I thought the biggest bucket in the game after Horford made the 3 from the corner (late in the fourth quarter), Draymond made the pass out of the pocket to Loon, and he finished with that left hand (to put the Warriors back up five).”
- Andrew Wiggins has transformed himself into an effective rebounder throughout this year’s playoffs and collected a career-high 16 in Game 4, Slater adds in the same piece. Wiggins has been criticized for his lack of rebounding during his eight NBA seasons, but he’s averaging 7.3 per game in this postseason as a small-ball power forward. “I want to win,” he explained. “I know rebounding is a big part of that. I just want to win.”
- In an attempt to revive himself for the rest of the series, Klay Thompson went swimming Saturday in San Francisco Bay, per Ali Thanawalla of NBC Sports Bay Area. Thompson spent a lot of time on the water, especially in his boat, during his 31-month rehab after two serious leg injuries.
Curry did put them on their back. He had a great all around gm. If Poole stays focused. Plays off the offense. Klay and Wiggins give them a little more scoring. It’s going to be tough to stop Warriors. Celtics will key on Curry next gm. He can still get his 24-28. So he will need others to pickup the scoring load imo.
Tatum and Brown have to have MVP gms like Curry did. Gotta step up and win one here. It’s all about gm5 now. Let’s do this !!!!
You can’t help but to root for Wiggins. He’s one of those feel good stories. He could have easily taken easy way out, take the guarantee money, and not grind. Instead, he has worked so hard in GS, worked on his shots, his defense, fit into the system and grind. He could have easily folded under pressure in postseason when the play intensified, yet he is stepping up and tryng his very best to help the team win. His size, length, and athleticism is standing out but his determination to win is just beautiful to see. Wiggins is fighting for his own legacy, to be an NBA Champ. Bravo Wiggins and thank you for not giving up!!!
Applauding a former number one overall pick for not folding & taking the easy guaranteed money is certainly a position one can take. He is playing at probably 75% of his natural gifts, as opposed to 50% earlier in his career. Bravo for not being a total bust? He is playing well, no doubt, just not sure he is deserving of lauding.
Keep hating
Not all top picks pan out….. besides, talent alone is not enough in postseason. It takes character, determination, and effort. He’s stepping up and playing like #2 player on a top team in his first nba finals. Good story for sure!!
@Dr Phil….your name says it all. Nobody should listen to the REAL Dr Phil either… smh ♂️
I guess that, too, is a position one can take. But only if one has a bug up one’s posterior.
The flip side of that coin is that he was just lazy before being traded to the Warriors tho and you should have a chapped butt if you’re Minnesota. Jimmy was right about his effort level. Talent was there, no he isn’t a # 1 or even a # 2 option but he can go off on nights and be a good #2, all about the effort tho.
Go google Jimmy Butler and Wiggins, he had nothing but praise for Wiggins during his time there.
You should read more stories bro. He said that after he was doing work in GSW uniform. Not 2021 or 2022 reports. Try 2017-2018
The Sporting News’ Sean Deveney reported in June that Butler “had problems last season with Wiggins, his work ethic and his approach on the defensive end of the floor” and that Butler’s presence didn’t positively impact Wiggins’ development as the Timberwolves had hoped.
Aka he was lazy.
Saying Wiggins is lazy is a lie. The problem is people like you that expect Wiggins to be what he is not. He will never be the #1 option in any offense because that is not him. Wiggins is too easy going and been told to be aggressive which makes him a better player. Warriors also took time and worked on his defense. T-wolves always wanted him to be the #1 option. Many players in the NBA are so much better not being the #1 option on a team.
I still believe Wiggins can be a big time scorer. But like he said it himself. “I just want to win”. He is playing to win. He knows it all flows off Curry and offense. He led in rebs and mins. In gm 4. Plus solid D. He’s come a long way if you ask me. Always liked Wiggins.
You didn’t even read my original post smh I literally said he wasn’t a #1 option. Problem with people like you is reading comprehension. And no it’s not a lie, it’s reading between the lines. If someone’s upset with your effort on defense, it’s bc you’re lazy. The opposite would be hustling. He wasn’t praised for hustling in Minnesota. And to say they didn’t try to work on his defense, his HC was Thibs…
Wiggins has never shown to be lazy on the warriors. Lazy is Kelly Oubre who has so much talent but stands around on the court. Wiggins asked Kerr if he could full court press on defense. Wiggins doesn’t like the lime light just wants to play ball and go home after the game is why some call him lazy. He is on a team where he can do that. You will enjoy Harden who is lazy on defense. That is what I call lazy when they don’t even get back on defense.
Well said bro. He has become a better all around player in GS. Has embraced it. Good for him.
Even though he was #1 pick, it feels like he is an underdog. Everybody counted him out when he came to Warriors; he was an unwanted player. He was a huge project to get him to fit into the system and become a contributing starter on a championship team. He was getting criticized every game from Kerr, Brown, and the veterans on the teams for the longest time. But now, they all revere him. Wiggins has won over all their respect. He is no longer just a new player on the team. He has been on the team for 3 yrs now and one of Warriors own. He is among the core of the team. He belongs in GS especially if Warriors win their 4th title.
I’m sure GSW will keep him if they can reduce his salary. His merit is as a flexable iron man, always available. Since Kerr/Myers failed to find a big they like, he has had to play a lot of 4 and rebound, a tough assignment vs Celtics.
His efficiency numbers are average at best, though, and have not improved for the playoffs except for rebounding. Career PER 14.8 and minus in BPM & Net rating.
Not known for clutch or leadership or determination. Bucks have done more for the similar Cedric Middleton in this respect. If GSW wins, Wiggins will get the dismissals of his title like Durant gets— at least for extension talks!
Talked about that lineup change before and after game 1, and it worked