NBA Finals: The Stephen Curry recipe for Game 6

Stephen Curry’s form averaged out in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. After delivering victory to level the series 2-2 with a Finals performance for the ages, the Golden State Warriors guard seemed to lose his mojo on Monday, going 0-for-9 from the deep. It was the first time in 132 post-season games and 233 games overall-an NBA record- that the Dubs star man hadn’t scored a three-point FG. It would also end his streak of multiple three-pointers in 38 consecutive playoff games. That the Warriors still managed to pick through the Boston Celtics 104-94 in a riveting encounter bodes well for Coach Kerr’s side.

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Driven by an Andrew Wiggins power show and Draymond Green’s feistiness, the Warriors showed steel to reel themselves back from the brink. After blitzing into a 12-point lead at halftime, they allowed the Celtics to rip into them in the third quarter. At one stage, the visitors snuck ahead by five points, spreading panic across the Chase Centre. It was short-lived, as Golden State found another gear to secure victory in the fourth.

But Curry was largely invisible throughout. Hemmed by Celtics double-teaming on him, he was uncharacteristically loose with his shooting. But it wasn’t just him. The Warriors shot a poor 9-for-40 from beyond the D, struggling to find a rhythm with their long-rangers. But Steve Kerr is nonplussed by Curry’s Game 5 dip, going so far as to say that he relishes what might come after:

“I think Steph was probably due for a game like this. He’s been shooting the ball so well that, at some point, he was going to have a tough night. Boston did a really good job defensively, as we would expect. They are a great defensive team. I thought they put more pressure on him early in pick-and-roll. And Steph missed some open ones, too…But even for the best shooter in the world, you know, games like this happen. And, fortunately, they don’t happen too often. I like Steph coming off of a game like this, too. I like his ability to bounce back,” quotes CBS Sports.

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And Curry does indeed possess tonnes of bouncebackability. The last time he went a game without nailing a three-pointer- after doing so 159 games on the bounce- he would massacre the New Orleans Pelicans, nailing a record 13 three-point FGs. This was back in 2016, but the 34-year-old is confident he can do it six years hence:

“Track record says I’ll shoot the ball better next game. And I’m looking forward to that bounce-back,” warns Curry.

If it does happen, expect Curry to blow a chef’s kiss to the Boston faithful!