Davis recorded two blocks in the first quarter, one in the third and another in the fourth. The numbers and the eye test indicate Curry was more bothered by Davis than Vanderbilt. And that's just on adjustment that got to make.” I got my shot blocked, I think three or four times, trying to get little floaters off because got one step too deep. “I respect how they are trying to guard us and where they are trying to push us on the floor,” Curry said after Game 1. There was, for Curry, a lesson in the process. Vanderbilt tried but failed to keep Curry from dropping 3-pointers on his head but succeeded in cutting off outside angles to force Curry into the paint, where 6-foot-11 Anthony Davis and his 7-foot-6 wingspan were lurking to provide help with defense worthy of the Louvre. The 4-of-11 shooting inside the arc was alarming, as were Curry’s five turnovers. He and the Warriors would take the 6 of 13 (46.2 percent) anytime, anyplace, any series. Curry was left to operate not only against VanVleet, but also myriad defenses devised by Toronto coach Nick Nurse, including box-and-one.Īnd now it’s Vanderbilt, who is the tallest (6-foot-8) and rangiest (7-foot-1 wingspan) yet to get the Curry assignment.Ĭurry’s 27 points came on 10-of-24 shooting from the field, including 6 of 13 from beyond the arc. Only VanVleet and the Raptors, in the 2019 Finals, prevailed – and that largely was a function of devastating injuries to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. He averaged 33.7 points on 48.8-percent shooting from the field, including 37.8 percent from distance. They were in middle school when Curry entered the NBA in 2009. The most recent assignment, in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs, went to a tag-team act, De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell of the Sacramento Kings. Curry took home the Finals MVP award after Golden State beat Boston in six. Smart took home the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year award a few weeks before being assigned to Curry in the 2022 NBA Finals. Next was Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors, followed last postseason by Dillon Brooks of the Memphis Grizzlies and Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics. Then came Patrick Beverley, who embraced the role with maniacal enthusiasm in multiple attempts with the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers. He was followed by Andre Roberson of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The original was Matthew Dellavedova, then with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Some might have shown well early in the playoffs, but only one can claim victory – and it comes with an asterisk. The NBA graveyard is filled with putative Steph Stoppers. He did a tremendous job in Game 1, as Curry needed 25 shots to score 27 points.Ĭoming up Thursday night is Game 2, which means Round 2.Ĭurry, 35, typically gets better as the rounds pass. The ABS (Anybody But Steph) assignment went to Jarred Vanderbilt, an excellent defender. So here comes another “Steph Stopper,” someone ultra-serious about defending Curry in the playoffs. 1 defensive priority, which is the same for every team facing the Warriors since 2012.ĭo not allow us to be defeated by Stephen Curry. SAN FRANCISCO – In Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday, Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham quickly revealed his No. Why history shows the term 'Steph Stopper' is mostly myth originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |