Steph Curry Went Into His "Bag"

STEPH CURRY WENT INTO HIS "BAG"

At the start of game 4 of the NBA Finals the Boston Celtics were full of vigor and confidence. They had just beaten the Golden State Warriors by 16 points in game 3, took a 2-1 lead in the series, and they were playing at home again. The young Boston Celtic core had a championship on their minds and their fans did too.

The game was competitive but the Warriors were unfazed. They scored 107 points as a team which has worked for them in their previous victory. They held the Celtics to 100 points (or less), and unlike in game 1 they did not fall apart defensively in the 4th quarter. Consequently, the Warriors won game 4 by double figures (10 points). Now the Celtics and the faithful fans have to accept a new reality. Winning this series is not guaranteed.

The Boston Celtics are the top ranked defensive team in the NBA. The Celtics are aggressive, big, and formidable. They also have the NBA DPOY (Marcus Smart), and man to man defense fuels their success. In addition, "help defense" from their center Robert Williams must be respected. The only problem has been that they CANNOT stop Steph Curry.

Steph Curry had been averaging 31 ppg, but then he stepped things up and dropped 43 points along with 10 rebounds, and 4 assists on Boston to help the Warriors tie the series. The Celtics learned a very valuable lesson as well. There is a real reason why Steph Curry gets double coverage by most teams as soon as he passes half court. If not, then he cannot be stopped.

The Boston defense has made Draymond Green a non-factor offensively and it has worked for the Celtics twice. In order to do that they have relied on Marcus Smart and Derrick White to guard Curry head to head. In game 3 the Derrick White "flopfest" had Curry in foul trouble. In game 4 Curry went in his "bag", and White lost a full inch of his disappearing hairline. Furthermore, Marcus Smart did no better. Curry had dusted off his floater and used it whenever he wanted because Smart could not stay in front of him.

In order for the Boston Celtics to be competitive for the rest of the series they will have to swallow their pride and start double teaming Curry as soon as he passes half court. Curry has figured them out and his point production has gone up every game except in game 2. In that game he had 29 points at the end of the 3rd quarter, and sat out the 4th in a blowout victory. The Celtic may be keeping Draymond Green from getting his 7 ppg, but the Warriors are fine with the 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and defensive intensity he brought last night.?

Steph Curry simply went into his "bag" and picked up Draymond Green's scoring slack. For the record, the Warriors have not had a breakout game, Klay has started shooting effectively, and Curry keeps elevating his game. Like Steph said in a post game interview, "We do this for each other". The Boston Celtics are in for a world of trouble. As I said before the series began, " I like the Warriors, and they will not need 7 games to win it all.

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