With NBA Finals tied at 2, Celtics aim to stop Curry
SAN FRANCISCO — As the Boston Celtics search for answers in an effort to stop Stephen Curry in these NBA Finals, they know even their best defense won’t always be good enough.
“Steph Curry is pretty good, if you guys haven’t noticed. He can shoot the ball unbelievably,” Boston guard Jaylen Brown said Sunday. “Even watching it, playing against it and even in the finals, I feel like he’s taking it up a notch a little bit. He had a hell of a performance in Game 4, and we have to respond to that.”
Whether the Celtics can do a better job containing the two-time MVP will be a major key as the best-of-seven series resumes at Chase Center tonight with the teams tied 2-2.
Coach Ime Udoka is calling for the Celtics to mix things up and be more physical on the heels of Curry’s 43point masterpiece in the Warriors’ 107-97 victory Friday in Boston.
Udoka will allow his guards some leeway in deciding exactly where to begin pressuring Golden State’s superstar — often starting well beyond the 3-point arc with the big men staying at the ready to assist.
Curry went 14 for 26 with seven 3-pointers and also grabbed 10 rebounds. Once he finds a rhythm, he can hit from anywhere, even with a defender’s hand in his face. But Udoka realizes how the career 3point leader can quickly become just as dangerous a playmaker, too.
of the Warriors shoots as he’s defended by the Celtics’ Al Horford during Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday. Game 5 is today.
“Obviously, the range extends the floor some. Some of the shots that he’s hitting are only shots that he can hit and have been highly contested,” Udoka said. “He’s hit a few of those.”