Curry flurry evokes ‘M-V-P’ chants in Shanghai
Dazzling show highlights rout of Minnesota: ‘I’m glad he’s on my team’
SHANGHAI >> The game started with the Warriors playing as awake as the Bay Area fans that slept in and with as much energy as the ones who tuned into the 4 a.m. telecast.
The game ended with the Warriors exerting their dominance with countless highlightreels en route to a 142-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday before a sell-out crowd of 16,007 fans at Mercedes-Benz Arena.
It remained impossible to document all of them for two reasons. The Warriors provided them on almost every play starting midway through the second quarter.
The NBA’s stats system lagged behind, and never caught up with providing any official numbers.
But it is safe to declare a few things. Warriors guard Stephen Curry scored a lot of points (40 according to the NBA) and shot at a proficient rate (13 of 20, including 6-of-9 on 3-pointers).
The Warriors’ immense talent can overcome most issues. And the Warriors’ defense and passing remain a big-time work in progress.
1. Curry delivered an MVP performance. The chants started when Curry stepped to the free-throw line midway through the second quarter. They grew louder with each made 3-pointer.
The fans here in China proclaimed Curry an “M-V-P” two years after winning the regular-season award unanimously. According to the NBA, Curry also had eight assists and six rebounds.
But it was Curry’s flurry of points scored in numerous ways that help the Warriors overcome a 44-36 deficit after one quarter. He drove to the basket with the same aggression as an imposing big man.
He threw up wild 3-point shots that only he could make. He threw fancy passes that set up Klay Thompson (28 points) from outside, Kevin Durant (22 points) along the wing and easy
baskets inside.
The Warriors did not make Curry for available for interviews, citing various sponsorship obligations. So, Thompson spoke on Curry’s behalf instead.
“I’ve been seeing it for seven years now and he’s very fun to watch,” Thompson said. “I’m happy the Shanghai fans and Shenzhen fans got a good glimpse of what he does so well. He works so hard and he’s humble. I try to emulate what he does. It’s very hard. But I just try to be like him.”
Curry went behind his back before pulling for a 3-pointer that tied the game at 66-66 with 3:18 left in the second quarter. When the Warriors led, 105-90, with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter, Curry already made 6 3-pointers.
On the next play, Curry lofted a floater over Minnesota forward Karl-Anthony Towns, forced Towns to fall over, drew the foul and converted on the 3-point play. Moments before the Warriors held a 114-95 lead entering the final quarter.
2. THE WARRIORS’ DEFENSE HAS LACKED IN PRESEASON PLAY >> Amid his quest to ensure his players keep an edge, coach Steve Kerr stressed about the need to maintain a top-five league ranking in defensive efficiency. Since training camp opened, however, the Warriors have shown little in living up to Kerr’s stated goal.
After entering Sunday’s game 26th out of 30 NBA teams in total points allowed (109.5) and last in defensive field-goal percentage (49 percent), the Warriors allowed Minnesota to play through a lay-up line, in what forward Draymond Green considered a “nonexistent” defensive performance.
The Timberwolves had scored 44 first-quarter points, which is slightly lower than the franchiseworst the 50 points the former San Francisco Warriors gave up to Syracuse on Dec. 16, 1962.
3. THE WARRIORS’ PASSING WASN’T CRISP >> Other than harping on the team’s defensive edge, Kerr also spent the beginning of training camp focusing on the team improving its passing. Too often, Kerr found his team making poor passes that disrupted their shooting rhythm.
The Warriors’ scoring outburst aside, they opened the game making lazy passes that hurt the team in transition. Draymond Green threw a cross-court pass that hit part of the backboard. Curry performed a jump pass that went to Minnesota. A few were stripped after a dribble handoff.
Kerr has cited such plays possibly adding up enough for opponents to expose the Warriors. And Minnesota did, at least for 1 ½ quarters.
4. NICK YOUNG, DAMIAN JONES SIT >> After struggling with jetlag, a reduced practice schedule and a full itinerary of promotional appearances, the Warriors experienced another challenge during their weeklong trip in China.
They started fielding injuries to some of their reserves. The Warriors sat veteran forward Nick Young (right hip contusion) and second-year center Damian Jones (sore throat) for Sunday’s game.
Warriors Omri Casspi also had a corneal abrasion in his right eye, though he still played. Young took a hard fall at the end of Thursday’s preseason loss to Minnesota in Shenzhen.
Young, who had signed as a free agent using the Warriors’ mid-level exception worth $5.2 million, has averaged 6.5 points on 33.3 percent shooting in 18 minutes per game off the bench, while prompting Kerr to call him out for his conditioning.
Jones has averaged 4.5 points on 50 percent shooting in 11 minutes per game off the bench.
After missing the preseason opener to celebrate Yom Kippur, Casspi posted six points on 3-of-5 shooting in 12 minutes off the bench in Thursday’s loss to Minnesota.
The Warriors signed Casspi as a free agent last summer.
5. DAVID WEST PROVIDED AN ENTERTAINING AND VALUABLE BENCH PRESENCE >> The Warriors’ veteran correctly called Minnesota for traveling and fouls on numerous possessions.
West playfully left the bench and headed toward the locker room after Green unexpectedly hit a 3-pointer. West often encouraged his teammates to play aggressively or hit the open man. West has provided much more than entertainment value as a respected veteran who has remained dependable with his on-court play and valuable for his offcourt mentorship.