LeBron James and Stephen Curry (Photo : Reuters)
Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors currently trail LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 1-2 in their best-of-seven NBA Finals series. So far, what had been evident in the first three games is the reigning MVP's seemingly deterred confidence on the floor.
What highlights it even more is the contrasting in-game composure and out-of-this-world numbers of the four-time MVP.
This provokes the question: Is Curry fazed by his first Finals appearance?
Well, maybe. But what is certain is that playing in the Finals is definitely new to him.
He has yet to experience the pressure, pageantry, and passion of what is known worldwide as the NBA Finals. Unlike his Eastern conference nemesis who had been in the glitz, glamour, and grit of this situation five times before. The experience factor is truly immense.
Here's the proof:
Just before this series began, Curry was in the conversation about the NBA's all-time greatest shooter. During the regular season, he shot 48.7 percent from the field and 44.3 percent from long distance.
Through three games of the Finals, he is shooting a miserable 25-of 63 (39.6 percent) and 11-of-24 (32.4 percent) from three-point range.
During the regular season, he averaged 3.1 turnovers per game. In the Cavs series, he is averaging almost double at 5.3. (Source: ESPN)
Clearly, something is bothering the fiery point guard's game, whether inexperience or giddiness, he just won't admit it.
"One game is not going to make me stop shooting or alter my confidence at all," he told the media after Game 2's 93-95 OT loss, as reported by Reuters. But it was not just one game. It had been two and three-fourth games already.
Fortunately for the Warriors, their MVP found his stroke back in the final quarter of Game 3 when he exploded for 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from downtown.
It's still not the "normal" Stephen that the Warriors are familiar with, but Golden State would be satisfied if that fourth-quarter Curry will show up from the get-go in Game 4 on Thursday.
