The Warriors record when Steph Curry scores 40 is ridiculous

There’s something bubbling underneath the surface of the Bay as the NBA’s preseason action gets hot and heavy. The Golden State Warriors have their eyes locked on not just making the playoffs for an eight straight year, but also defending the bloody Western Conference crown for a fifth straight season.

Additionally, the Dubs are grinding off of the radar because the general consensus around NBA pundits seems to be “yea, the Warriors dynasty is finished”.

Fair enough. If there was ever a time to reeaallly doubt the Warriors since Coach Steve Kerr took over, it’s now.

How could they remain a contender with the natural hiccups that come with rebooting some of their programming to adjust for Klay Thompson’s absence, the losses of brilliant vets Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston, and a wave of new faces?

Is Kerr’s wisdom and patience enough to maximize a roster that still boasts three healthy All-Stars in Draymond Green, D’Angelo Russell, and Stephen Curry?

Those questions are all the more reason Curry dropping 40-points in 25 minutes last Thursday was such a sunny reminder of why Golden State is the never ending story. The Dubs are a weapon of mass destruction when they activate Curry as a living, breathing, basketball nightmare who uses regular seasons as target practice to hone his playoff powers and rack up “Greatest of All-Time” level statistics.

Curry really loves 40 (and not just E-40)

When Curry made 14-of-19 shot from the field (6-of-9 from beyond the arc) on the Minnesota Timberwolves just to grease his holster, the basketball world took notice. There’s just something about that “40-point” threshold that rings the alarm around the NBA that someone is going berserk.

Just another night at work for the father of three. Literally, just another night for a guy who drops 40 on dudes like a scant few others can.

Did you know that since Curry was drafted in 2009 to the Monta Ellis-era Dubs, there have been 699 times during the regular season that a player has scored 40 or more points?

And during that timespan, Curry has done it 38 times, good enough for fourth most in the league.

Basketball Reference

(Kinda crazy that the other three dudes atop this list have never defeated the Warriors in a playoff series, amirite! Hey, if you can’t beat ‘em, join em, right KD?)

Since Curry first erupted for 42 on the Portland Trailblazers back in April of 2010, those scoring explosions have marked his career. Those scoring binges leap off of the stat sheets, harrowing reminders of the ghosts of helpless defenders past.

For a bigger scope on how prolific this superstar by the Bay is, let’s check the All-Time list for 40-point games, where Curry’s currently ranked 24th. That’s higher than...lemme see... Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Vince Carter, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Dirk Nowitzki.

Did you know the Warriors have a 32-6 record in games Curry rings the bell on 40? (4-2 in the postseason.) That’s fascinating, especially when we compare it to say, oh, I don’t know, another MVP like Russell Westbrook’s 21-22 record on his 40-point nights.

So, Curry leisurely breezing his way there in 25 minutes last Thursday night provided a familiar encouraging feeling that the Warriors are gonna be alright, after all.

But for the doubters and scoffers who have already buried the reigning, defending Western Conference champions before a single second of meaningful basketball has been played, Curry’s nonchalant masterpiece served as a cold reminder that he is a living legend.

The Warriors ain’t done yet, not by a longshot.