NBA Finals Gala Commentary by Stephen Curry: The 2022 Version of ‘The Last Dance’

Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors to an equalizer in the NBA Finals with one of the best games of his career. With his performance, the 34-year-old brought back memories of Michael Jordan’s farewell performance on the biggest stage. A comment from NBA Editor-in-Chief Ole Frerks.

It’s time to bury some myths. That Stephen Curry is not a good finals or playoff performer has been refuted often enough. In this postseason, not many who are really watching claim that he can’t defend. But that’s not what today is about: It’s about “Strength in Numbers”.

The Warriors played under this slogan for years, certainly rightly so in the early years of their dynasty. Today they have “Strength in Number 30”. The dynasty is on its last legs, they are no longer the best or deepest team, not even in this series. But they have the best player and sometimes that can be enough.

Perhaps it’s more of a reboot of “The Last Dance,” albeit without the dysfunction and impending imminent fall into oblivion that accompanied the Bulls in 1998 (the Warriors have young talent). For: With the ailing co-star (in the Pippen role: Klay Thompson). With the defensive genius who sometimes seems unstable and is no longer defended (Draymond as the new Rodman – fits!).

And with one of the greatest players of all time who may not be in his Prime anymore, but who can still shift into that mode that few players ever achieve. Curry isn’t Michael Jordan, but in Game 4 he had one of those performances that His Airness is still revered for decades later.

Stephen Curry vs. “Beautiful Game”-Warriors

Curry knew that losing would probably have equated to losing in this series and he acted accordingly from the start. Already in the first quarter he took on Celtics fans, he celebrated, strutted, set the tone, played with the fire of a three-time champion who didn’t want to bury the chance of a fourth ring.

Above all, he dominated offensively and used every gap, even if it wasn’t there. He was aggressive from the start, fully aware that he is his team’s only really good scoring option at the moment. In this series, the Warriors are no longer the “beautiful game” warriors with relay passes, outstanding off-ball movement and great spacing; the Celtics have largely taken everything from them.

Instead, they milk their best player like a “normal” team. Curry got 48 on-ball screens in this game, the highest since game 5 of the 2017 finals (!) – Kerr only invokes this weapon in the form when it is really necessary, when nothing else wants to work properly.

Stephen Curry has its own rules

Well: Hardly anything else works in the half-field, except after offensive rebounds. But the curry offense that works. Because nothing is normal with him. The Celtics don’t defend him badly, it often just doesn’t matter. Its combination of creativity, agility and shotmaking remains nigh unfair.

The throws that Curry partially hit on the way to his 43 pointsagain delivered enough material for a ten-hour long Netflix-Broadcast. Curry has its own rules, nobody else ever caused such a panic at height. The 34-year-old carried his team like only the greatest can.