Seriously though, I got some tikka masala in the fridge… I mean I don’t, wishing is not having, but for the sake of the pun gods (are they pagan?) and my stomach, we must combine NBA with food at all times. Just like Zion! (Too soon?) But even with the d-plus pun, the question is kinda serious, no? I mean, just asking the question kinda reflects how amazing Stephen Curry has been for so many years. Despite coming away with the win, Steph’s 2-12 FGM and 0-8 3PT was certainly something. Certainly not indicative of an imminent collapse… but just to frame this appropriately, until last night, he had made at least one three in 268 straight games. Not just that, but the last time Curry had less than 10 points and no three-pointers was 2013! And one other stat that’s just seems pure Steph, but despite the 7/2/8 effort with four turnovers, he still ended up +14 and also did this:
Good-guy Curry always contributing… and yes, bad games are going to happen, maybe a bit more often than not moving forward, but the way the Warriors season has been going, the timing just kinda makes sense. Steve Kerr alluded this to being perhaps a “Last Dance” 2.0, but right now this team looks to be only play-in capable. So of course, we’re all going to start wondering what comes next for this team and the legacy they’ve left behind as the curtain starts to close. (Mostly choke-holds and Championships, no?)
And speaking of what’s next, Klay Thompson has been having some issues in 2023 (we’re using the calendar year, because last season wasn’t great either), intertwining perfectly with the aforementioned Warriors franchise’s inevitable launch into the sun. (Both romantic and not that bad of an idea of it gets rid of Draymond.) But his last three games have been pretty solid, scoring eight, four, and five three-pointers in each of those games and going 28/4/1 on 69/50/100 last night. He’s probably not going to be who he used to be, but after that injury history, I’m not sure I can blame him.
The last I’ll say about this team, only because it’s “roster” related, but it appears Draymond Green‘s suspension will be at least three weeks based on the reports describing his counseling process. Which probably involves some kind of MMA training component.
Since we’re on an “off-the-court” kind of news run, there’s been an ANT sighting! The drama in-question if you’re into that sort of thing… I only care insofar that there was so much hype for Anthony Edwards coming out from this Summer’s FIBA and how the Timberwolves are gearing for a deep playoff run… just bad timing if it indirectly affects any of this.
So I think the Dame-doubters can rest easy now… don’t get me wrong, Damian Lillard can put up some really bad games with the best of them, but you don’t really know the sweet unless you’ve tasted sour. And in these two back-to-backs, he brought the sugar with 72 combined points, and 11-for-22 from 3.
Low-key big-man Daniel Gafford showed up against the Suns with a career-high 26 points and 17 rebounds. I continue loving him as a 10/10 glue-guy, and have always been a fan. Tank Commander Tyus Jones also put up 22/4/11 with six steals and a block. Both very solid players on a very not-solid team. I mean, the metaphors are endless…
Celtics, as expected, have been a tough team to crack, especially at home. But even in a loss, Paolo Banchero was able to put up a 36/10/1 line with 2 steals after starting off with 19 points and 3-4 3PT in the first quarter.
Clippers are looking like a proper team again, showing that an homage to the Hakeem/Drexler/Charles Rockets can still be fun when it works! Will it have a playoff burn-out like the last iteration? Most likely, but it should be at least noted that since James Harden gave his “10-game window” prediction, he’s scored over 18 points a game with nearly 9 assists, and a block per game (1.6 steals!), fueling a 8-2 record.
Jay is a longtime Razzball everything who consumes an egregious amount of Makers Mark as a vehicle to gain wisdom and augment his natural glow. Living in the D.C. area, he also likes spending time visiting the local parks and feeding lettuce to any turtles he encounters, including Mitch McConnell.
