After a truly forgettable performance in Game 5, Stephen Curry was back to his normally excellent self in Game 6, finishing with 29 points on 12-of-23 shooting, while going a game high +33.
But Curry’s first half was inauspicious, going 1-for-7 from deep and looking rushed with the ball in his hands. Of all people, it was Draymond Green who proved to be the calming influence for Curry at halftime, dropping a classic John Wooden line on the two-time MVP.
“Steph was fantastic,” Steve Kerr said after the game. “Early in the game, he and KD (Kevin Durant) really struggled. It seemed to me we were in a big rush. We were passing up layups to try to shoot 3s in transition. We were launching 3s just without a thought of maybe getting a better shot. I think once we kind of settled down and got back in the game and cut it to 8 or 10 points, I think we kind of calmed down.
“I think Draymond (Green) at halftime had used the John Wooden line. He said: Be quick, but don’t hurry. And nobody’s ever said it better than John Wooden. That’s the game of basketball. Be quick, but don’t hurry. We were in such a hurry that first maybe 18, 20 minutes, and we kind of settled in.”
“He just told me to slow down,” Curry said of Green. “When you want a game so bad, and the energy in the building, you know we were trying to claw our way back into it defensively, and it affected my offensive game, I was rushing a little bit. Not being decisive with my shots. It was a nice little pep talk for my confidence. Just tried to come out in the second half and tried to make plays.”