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Last night, the world changed.
This happened:
Followed by the Warriors bench doing this:
Our very own Andy Liu had a really funny take on the whole thing:
any Steph Curry crossover thinkpieces this morning? put me on
— Andy Liu (@AndyKHLiu) April 1, 2015
(the commercials / the good boy act that was CP3 in his earlier years / Steph emulating those on his MVP way / headed on different paths now
— Andy Liu (@AndyKHLiu) April 1, 2015
crossover signified the proverbial fork between the two top point guards / think / piece)
— Andy Liu (@AndyKHLiu) April 1, 2015
To which I promptly said:
@AndyKHLiu yo! That is a really cool idea. Do you mind if I run with this for a piece? I'll give you co-write etc!
— Bram Kincheloe (@BramKincheloe) April 1, 2015
Before realizing that Andy was only joking:
@BramKincheloe ha! I was joking but feel free my man
— Andy Liu (@AndyKHLiu) April 1, 2015
But seriously, it got me thinking...
1.) Stephen Curry and Chris Paul are both from North Carolina.
2.) For years, Paul has been the prohibitive, hands-down best point guard in the NBA. Now, we have the strange two-headed beast of Russell Westbrook vs. Curry argument, already covered at length.
3.) They co-star in those damn State Farm ads. Which reminds me:
@AndyKHLiu the State Farm commercial with Steph on the up escalator and CP3 going down looking aghast was the turning point
— Draymond Artest (@StretchRothman) April 1, 2015
When did it flip? How did this small, gangly, sudden college superstar turned NBA assassin claim not only the title of "North Carolina's most famous basketball player," but more importantly, "best point guard in the NBA" from the wonder-boy golden-child once famed All-American Christopher Emmanuel "Chris" Paul?
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Chris Paul has long been one of the most vocal, visible, and important members of the NBA community. He is the president of the National Basketball Players Association. He does a million commercials, most visibly as the leader of those aforementioned State Farm commercials. He is one of the league's leaders in off the court earnings.
Now is as good a time as any to remember when he and LeBron James dished out life lessons to a young Steph, James Harden and Hasheem Thabeet (!!!).
Steph, in many ways, has grown up in the shadow of Chris Paul. He attended his famous CP3 skills camp. While Paul was a McDonalds All American in high school, Steph barely received a D1 offer.
But the similarities are there as well. They both stayed in North Carolina to attend college. They both are wizards with the basketball. They share a love for hard work, and a love for the game itself.
And so when Steph crossed CP3 last night, it felt like a momentous event.
It is no secret that the Clippers and Warriors hate each other. It is a rivalry unparalleled in the modern day NBA. Everyone and their mother are pulling for these two teams to meet in this year's playoffs. The tension would be unbearable.
"The Crossover," as it has been dubbed, somehow perfectly provided the authoritative stamp on the "Curry is better than CP3" argument that has been brewing all year. Shit, it's been brewing for many years. Since college, since high school. Ever since people started comparing the two players. Both diminutive point guards from North Carolina.
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Reactions from around the league:
Isiah Thomas was impressed:
As was all of Los Angeles:
Walking around LA Live today, people still talking about Steph's crossover.
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) April 1, 2015
As was Bill Simmons, who attended the game:
That was an Alpha Dog win by GSW. Nothing to play for anymore, no Draymond, then Doc chirps pregame and they took it personally. Great team.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 1, 2015
Steph vs CP is the new best NBA rivalry of dudes that actually guard each other. The best non-playoffs Clips crowd i can remember.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 1, 2015
Shout out to the Warriors fans who TOOK OVER STAPLES CENTER LAST NIGHT!!
And, also, shout out to Chris Paul for having a sense of humor:
There's a lot to love about this season. But last night's game—a game that meant the world to the Clippers, and absolutely nothing (standings-wise) to the Warriors—may have been one of my favorites.
Keep rocking Steph.
Cross over the world. Show them what time it is.
***Steph Time***
And how many times have Warriors fans come through?!
"MVP!!----------MVP!!--------MVP!!" chants booming, echoing through the rafters of once-hostile arenas. Where there are more Warriors fans in the building of the opponent. Mmmmmmm. I love it.