While I am a fan of certain elements of our East Coast metropolises — the unbeatable excitement of New York City; the dripping American history of a Boston or a Philadelphia — it’s safe to say we all choose to live in the Bay Area for many, many reasons.
Among those reasons is that none of us is clamoring for Stephen Curry’s head right now.
Because if we were East Coasters? If we were foaming-at-the-mouth sports fans like those Bostonians, those New Yorkers, those Yo-Philly!’ers? Curry might be wearing a fake nose and glasses when he goes to the grocery store.
Two games into the Western Conference Finals, Steph Curry is not playing premium-level basketball.
Yes, the Warriors are in good shape, having split two road games in Houston. Yes, the Warriors play Games 3 and 4 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, where they have a record-tying 15-game playoff win streak. And yes, Curry has a history of bouncing back from any playoff “slumps”.
But whether it’s because he’s not fully recovered from his sprained knee (didn’t the Warriors wait the full six weeks to let him heal?); or whether Kevin Durant is taking too many isolation possessions (zero assists from KD in Game 2); or whether it’s because Houston’s repeated attacks on Curry on defense have tired his legs (double the normal isolations he gets in regular season), Curry has not responded so far.
Since the Warriors championship run began in spring/summer 2015, Curry’s playoff numbers have never been so low.
I know, I know. SSS, say the data guys. Small sample size.
But still.
Curry is 30 years old, so while he’s not a spring chicken, he’s got plenty left in the tank, presumably. But fighting through injury in the star-crossed NBA Finals of 2016 took its toll, as does, apparently, fighting through injury in 2018.
If this were the East Coast, Curry would be getting roasted for not showing up in big games.
This isn’t the East Coast, so we sun-splashed and more-chill West Coasters appreciate Steph’s brilliance, MVPs, championships, humility and toughness.
That said, it’d be nice to see superstar Curry play like superstar Curry.
Maybe the script changes Sunday night.