Doncic is great, but Curry is still The Man
DALLAS — At the end of the first quarter, Stephen Curry missed a 3-point shot, the type of buzzer-beater that he has made famous. Dallas rebounded and Luka Doncic launched a 3, which swished in as the horn sounded.
And Doncic even did an awkward big-guy version of the Steph shimmy, that actually looked a little more like he was trying to do the hula, or shrug off a tight sweater.
Was that the moment? The passing of the baton? The changing of the point guard? Um, no. No, it wasn’t.
The 34-year-old champion point guard has led his team to the brink of a sweep over the 23-year-old guard’s group. With Sunday’s 109-100 victory over the Mavericks, the Golden State Warriors took a 3-0 lead and demoralized the Mavs. The Warriors could end the Western Conference finals Tuesday night.
After the game, Doncic sounded almost like it was finished.
“I think the first two quarters, I played very bad,” Doncic said. “That’s on me, but I’m still learning. I think after this season is done, whatever we are, I think we’re going to look back and learn a lot of things.
“It’s my first time in the conference finals in the NBA. I’m 23, man. I’m still learning a lot.”
And thanks to Curry, Doncic is seeing up close what an NBA champion looks like. One still hungry and still eager to add to his ring collection.
This was one of the story lines heading into these Western Conference finals. The aging champion against the rising star. Steph versus Luka for the title of best point guard in the league.
That’s a fake, hot-take kind of setup between two superior players
“I hate that stuff,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “I’m just a crusty old coach and it’s a basketball game. There are 10 people on the floor and both of those guys are amazing players.
However …
“Steph was brilliant,” Kerr said. “His conditioning level is amazing. They’re putting him in every pick and roll. He’s out there flying around defensively and playing at such a high level on the offensive end. It’s remarkable to watch him play.”
Curry is averaging 28 points in this series, to lead his team. He had another double-double, his second of the series. In Game 1, he had 21 points and 12 rebounds. On Sunday, he had 31 points and 11 assists. He’s averaging more than 35 minutes a game.
He had his seventh 30-point game of this postseason, the 47th of his playoff career. According to ESPN Stats & Info, the only players with that many 30-point games in a single postseason at the age of 34-plus are Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
Game 3 was his 53rd playoff game with five or more 3-pointers. No other player in history has hit 30 such games.
Curry, in other words, still has the title. He’s still the best.
Did he hear any of that talk about being surpassed by Doncic? Was it motivating to him at all?
“I hear everything,” he said. “That’s not the motivation, though. The motivation is the fact that we are back on this stage, with the opportunity to chase a Finals appearance again after a two-year hiatus.
“I don’t need any extra motivation. It’s trying to take advantage of an opportunity.”
And he’s taking advantage. Even a waiter delivering a drink courtside, who tripped Curry before the half, couldn’t slow him down.
“It’s like 30 seconds before halftime and you order a drink, just wait ’til halftime,” Curry said. “I don’t know why they need to deliver it right then. Thankfully, I was all right. That guy, he was doing his job. Hopefully, he got a big tip.”
Curry is in his element, almost tasting another Finals appearance. The best conditioned player in the league (according to Dallas head coach Jason Kidd). Ready to seize the moment.
“He’s being extremely, extremely aggressive,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said. “That’s what we need. I don’t really see any difference (from younger Curry) other than maturity. You know what to expect now. You know how to win.”
Think back to the end of the regular season, when Curry was out with an injury. Was anyone sure he would snap back into playoff-caliber Curry? Was anyone convinced the Warriors were a championship-caliber team?
Was there some doubt about Curry? Some worry that he could be past his prime?
“For a group of guys that’s been counted out and said we were done, stick a fork in them, send them to their deathbed, that’s enough motivation,” Green said.
“And you know if someone is saying, ‘Oh this guy is next. It’s his turn now,’ you’re going to have something to say about that if possible. And Steph is more than capable of having something to say about it.”
The Warriors have nothing but praise for Doncic, and even offer a helping hand up when he topples over, as Green extended. “I appreciate you asking me about that,” Green said when asked. “Everyone thinks I’m a bad person.”
And the Warriors know Doncic is going to have plenty of opportunities to win a championship, for many years. But not, if they can help it, this year.
They still have the reigning point-guard superstar. They still have the king of the shimmy. Curry dropped a shimmy right in front of the TNT broadcasters.
Green, who sees everything on the court, saw Doncic’s shimmy.
“Of course I saw it,” he said. “It’s to be expected. Steph was in the area.”
Curry, however missed it and could not offer a critique.
“I did not see it,” he said. “I’ll do some homework and get back to you on that one.”
He doesn’t need to. His shimmy is better. His overall game is better. And there’s no changing of the point guard. Not yet.