‘An incredible story’
PORTLAND, Oregon – In a one-sided series that could - and perhaps should have been competitive but never quite got there, the most heart-warming plot line has been a story of family.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr describes the Currys as the “royal family of the NBA.”
Over the course of the Warriors’ three consecutive victories in the Western Conference Finals it has been hard to argue with that sentiment.
There’s Dell Curry, a 16-year league veteran, watching over his sons, ALLNBA sharp-shooter Steph and Portland Trail Blazers guard Seth, as they do battle.
There’s Sonya Curry, whose excited reactions when one of her boys produces a highlight-reel moment is just one of the ways she generates positive focus.
The league and its fans have enjoyed this story, and the brothers have backed up the narrative.
Even if the conference finals end in a sweep – with the Warriors hungrily hunting a Game 4 win and the glut of rest that comes with it -- on Monday at the Moda Center, we will remember this sibling meeting for quite some time.
Game 2 was the highlight and decisive point of the series. It was Seth’s best outing of the postseason, as he picked his brother’s pocket for four steals, was a defensive pest and nailed clutch fourth quarter shots, before Golden State’s late-game poise clinched the win.
That performance has done a lot for the younger Curry and his growing reputation, that much is commonly accepted.
But how much impact has this matchup had on Steph?
It was just two weeks ago that the Warriors’ star had a question mark over him.
He was struggling in the Western Conference semifinal series against the Houston Rockets, affected perhaps by a middle finger injury but also painfully low on confidence. Now, he is back to being one of the most dominant players in the NBA and a true star of this postseason.
Kevin Durant’s injury allowing Curry more freedom is given most of the credit, but has the sibling battle broken him out of his mini-slump, too?
“It feels good,” Steph Curry said, when asked what it is like to be out there alongside Seth. “This was like the coolest experience I think I’ve ever had playing against him.”
There is a spring back in Steph’s step and a smile on his face once more.
There is little time for worry and hesitancy when his younger brother is around, because, hey, brotherly things can happen. Like when Seth tried to get in his head at the free throw line as Steph lined up a pair of late attempts in Game 2.
“That’s like 70 in a row,” Seth said, trying to jinx him. “About to be 72,” came the response. There have been amusing moments and quotables aplenty.
Steph has admitted that there have been times when he has gone through the motions of contesting shots to “look good” but hasn’t minded if Seth’s attempts have gone in.
Up in the stands, Dell and Sonya have worn hybrid jerseys of the teams, facilitated by a friend of Sonya’s with gifted needlework skills, while watching with their daughter, Sydel Curry-lee.
“I thought of their parents at one point,” Kerr admitted. “Can you imagine watching your two boys go head-tohead in a playoff game and both hitting huge shots? It must have been amazing for them. It is an incredible story.”
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Finally finding his place
Seth Curry’s story has not been as seamless as that of his brother, already a three-time NBA champion.
Floating around the NBA and the Gleague and never quite latching on through five seasons, he eventually got his contract with the Blazers and locked into the struggle for playing time.
He has proven his worth now, with Blazers coach Terry Stotts emphasizing that he got heavy minutes here not because of sibling insight, but because of his talent.
In fairness, though, on the court, Seth does know his brother better than anyone.
“I’ve seen every Warriors game and every Steph game for the past 10 years,” Seth said. “I feel like I know some things he likes to do.”
The situation has been a joyous one for the family, but also laced with trickiness.
No matter what happens, the Currys will be left with one son going to the NBA Finals and another whose season ends in disappointment.
“I normally don’t get nervous at all,” Dell told The New York Times. “Playing 16 years in the league I thought that all my nerves were gone. But this has changed that.”
These are the seventh set of brothers to meet in an NBA playoff series.
“As a parent what more can you ask for?” Warriors enforcer Draymond Green said. “Sonya is amazing and I love her, but Dell - as a father who has played in the NBA - that is a completely different thing. I can only imagine what that feels like.”
Green, with a comedic twist typical of him, then joked he didn’t care about the story line aspect of it and hoped that “Steph destroys Seth.”
That hasn’t happened, but the simple and inescapable truth of this series is that however much Portland’s passionate fan base has wanted them to be competitive, the Blazers have not been able to sustain their occasional bursts of productivity.
As a result, barring an extraordinary turnaround, Seth will leave these playoffs with his honor firmly intact and having shown he belongs. Meanwhile, ominously, his brother has gotten his mojo back.
Perhaps the family tone running through these conference finals has helped Steph feel comfortable again, and enabled him to get back to enjoying basketball.
Past experience shows that when that happens ... watch out.