Facing the possibility of a 3-1 series deficit, Stephen Curry put the Golden State Warriors on his back to even the series 2-2. He dropped a staggering 43 points in the team’s 107-97 win in Game 4 and has led all players in scoring in each of the initial four games of the 2022 NBA Finals.
“Incredible,” Draymond Green said. “Put us on his back. Willed us to win. Much-needed win. A game we had to have. Came out and showed why he’s one of the best players to ever play this game, you know, and why, you know, this organization has been able to ride him to so much success. It’s absolutely incredible.”
It wasn’t just the volume of points Curry scored that was impressive. He made demoralizing plays in big moments and was instrumental in the 13-0 run in the fourth quarter the Warriors used to ultimately put the game out of reach for the Celtics in clutch time.
“It means everything knowing the sense of urgency we had to have tonight to win on the road and keep some life in the series, get home-court advantage back and try to create some momentum our way,” Curry said.
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So much of the Warriors’ offense is relying on the gravity Curry’s shooting ability provides. Within the half-court, Stephen Curry has made Boston pay for switching by making electrifying plays and he’s bullied them for playing drop coverage. Robert Williams III playing close to the level hasn’t gotten it done either. One fact has become clear: It doesn’t matter what you do to try to stop Curry.
“You just try to do what you can to help free him up to get him to his spots or open up some space for him to create and get to his spots,” Green said. “For us, we’ve just got to continue to fill in where we may. You’ve got a shot, take it. … I think if everybody is forceful on the offensive end, and that means with cuts, that means crisp with your passes, then you allow him to be in the position to do what he does.”
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Many have heralded the Celtics’ defense as being an elite juggernaut that has all the tools to slow down Golden State’s Curry-led attack. Meanwhile, he personally accounted for just one point less than both of the Celtics’ star wing duo combined. Curry’s 43 points even outproduced the rest of his fellow Warriors starters by four points.
“He was going to come out with that type of fire,” Green said. “And he did, and we were all able to follow it.”
The series shifts back to Chase Center for Game 5 and if a Game 7 ends up being required, it will be on the Golden State Warriors’ home floor. The pressure is now on the Boston Celtics — the vastly less experienced team — to close out the series.
