Curry shows again: ‘That’s why he’s the MVP’
OAKLAND — As the seconds ticked off in the agonizingly tight game, with Portland’s Al-Farouq Aminu in his face, Stephen Curry dribbled forward, backward, stepped back and drained a 3-pointer.
And just like that, the Warriors finally had conquered a ferocious opponent in Portland. They won the game 125-121, and the series, four games to one, and advanced to the Western Conference Finals.
And just like that, we reconfirmed that this is Curry’s world and we’re just getting to hang out in it.
Coincidence that Curry won the game? Almost 20,000 delirious fans in Oracle Arena would tell you they think not.
As head coach Steve Kerr said Wednesday, “That’s why he’s the MVP.”
It had been 25 long days since the hometown fans had seen what they live for: Curry coming out for his pregame warm-up, Curry leading the team out for introductions, Curry draining a three-pointer to cause an earthquake at 880 and Hegenberger.
Curry hadn’t played in a game at Oracle since the very first game of the playoffs against Houston on April 16. Warriors fans love their team, but they love it a lot more when Curry is on the court.
On Wednesday, the fans got what they wanted and more. They also got an MVP ceremony for the second time in 13 months.
Before the game, Curry was awarded his second consecutive MVP trophy. He lifted it over his head. Just like last year.
And then, just like last year, he struggled in the game following the ceremony.
Of course, his early-game struggles were caused by coming off a long injury layoff followed by 37 minutes of intense basketball Monday, rather than the MVP hoopla that disrupted him in May 2015.
“I thought the ceremony (Tuesday) was very different,” Kerr said before the game. “He wasn’t emotional. Last year, he was very emotional. Last year, the vote was up in the air and could have gone a couple of different ways, so when he won it, it was a surprise.
“This time, it was more matter of fact. Which is kind of cool when an MVP ceremony can be matter of fact for somebody. I don’t think he will be rattled tonight.”
A year ago, Curry struggled and the Warriors lost 97-90 to Memphis. Curry was 2-for-11 from beyond the arc and scored 19 points. He admitted afterward to feeling “weird” and out of his routine after receiving his first MVP trophy on the court before the game.
“It was a long 48 hours,” Curry said that night.
It wasn’t quite as long this time. Draymond Green forgot to even congratulate Curry because, he said, he had known since December that Curry was going to win the award. This second MVP was a foregone conclusion. Matter of fact.
Even the historic unanimity of the vote didn’t change the feeling that we all knew this was going to happen.
The surprise was that Curry would be coming off an injury when he won the award and would end up forced into extended duty in his first game back. And that’s what Kerr was most worried about before Game 5.
“The adrenaline has worn off, and the excitement of coming back for the first time, that’s gone,” Kerr said. “Now it’s more about settling back in to the routine. We’ll see how he responds to that.”
The response was less about the Warriors and Curry than it was about the full-hearted effort of the Trail Blazers, who proved themselves to be the antithesis of the Rockets. Again and again, Portland grew its lead to double digits, and again and again the Warriors had to respond.
Curry wasn’t as dazzling as he was Monday night. That game was one for the ages. Wednesday’s was much more pedestrian, by his standards. He finished with a double-double: 29 points and 11 assists, 5-for-11 from threepoint range.
The pregame award ceremony was a brief affair. Curry knew not to waste anyone’s time with more words. He received the trophy from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver — though he awkwardly did not receive a handshake when he put out his hand to Silver. Sitting on the Portland bench, Damian Lillard quietly applauded his Warriors counterpart, surely dreaming that someday he, too, will receive an MVP.
In his pregame warmup, Curry was styling. He came out wearing his new signature “Back to Back MVP” gold, black and white shoes. Very flashy and a good Under Armour promotion. But by game time, he had changed back into his customary blue and gold shoes. He’s a creature of habit and superstition.
He ran through his regular routine. And, like it has most nights this season, his routine ended with a win.
Exactly the way an MVP evening should finish.