Warrior Wonder: Steph Curry MVP-mode activated

With a season-high 39 points, tonight’s Warrior Wonder has to go to Stephen Curry. He would have had a triple double if his teammates could have finished some of his passes.

His 11 rebounds (also a season-high), 7 assists, and 3 steals completed a strong all-around game.

It’s his second straight good game. As I wrote yesterday:

A couple of games ago he was touching the 50-40-90 club again. After a bit of a run of not-quite-heavenly shooting, some were reaching for the panic button. But with such small sample sizes early in the season a few games either way can affect the percentages.

There were some ridiculous takes out there that I’m not going to link to, but people forget he has a tendency to start seasons a bit slower before elevating his game after the All-Star break.

It’s a pattern - the hate pours on, and then he makes everyone look very silly.

A less welcome season-high

He was hyper-aggressive with Kevin Durant out. Sadly this meant his impressive line was complemented with 7 turnovers (another season-high).

I did feel about halfway through the third quarter that he started hunting for those assists a bit and that led to a few of those turnovers.

I was reminded of the game in Philadelphia a couple of years ago where the Warriors escaped thanks to a buzzer beater from Harrison Barnes.

They had aced the first half before their flow disintegrated. Draymond Green later admitted that he had started hunting for a triple double after half-time and that had thrown off their rhythm.

And of course Curry also fouled out of a close game with three minutes to go. I’m not usually one to kvetch about refereeing, but one or two of those calls were pretty garbage.

Nonetheless it was an early game in Brooklyn, off a back-to-back against a team who had traded away consecutive high lottery picks and just don’t have much talent, especially with my all-time GOAT Jeremy Lin and D’Angelo Russell out injured.

It’s pretty hard to get up for a game like that, so kudos to Curry for coming out with some force.

Other candidates

Omri Casspi had a decent game too in his first start with the Warriors.

His perpetual motion on offense and solid defense led to a nice stat line of 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Very dependable and you can see why he’s a Kerr favourite.

The other two stars played their part as well. Draymond Green was good defensively and if the three shots that were halfway down and popped out went in, he would have stuffed the stat sheet.

As it is, 5 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals doesn’t look too shabby.

Klay Thompson was a little quiet at points in the game but he came alive at the end with two big shots to finish off the Nets after Curry had to take a seat.

Overall, he finished with 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting, along with 10 rebounds.

Who do you have as tonight’s Warrior Wonder?