BY THE time Stephen Curry stood on the path to help disrupt what was shaping into another alien incursion by the incredible James Harden on Friday, the NBA has already delivered a super game, a real sports thrill.
It’s indeed a joy how the Western Conference Finals has developed early into a classic mano-a-mano between the NBA’s finest scorers today.
Curry, the league MVP, reigned again in Game 2 by drilling three-point bombs way off the arc—from no man’s land, if you please.
Harden feints, fades, shifts and scores through outstretched enemy arms, as though possessed of phantom floating powers.
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Golden State grabbed a 2-0 edge in its conference title playoffs with a shaky 99-98 stitch over Houston Rockets, but the best-of-7 duel promises to be precarious for Curry & Co. with the series moving to Houston today.
Coach Steve Kerr of the Warriors made brilliant moves, like instant baskets scored through bullet-quick undergoal inbounds. But the double-team effort on Hayden with 6.9 seconds left was the most astonishing defensive stab on Friday in the best-cheered match of the conference so far.
The homecourt should prove kinder to the Rockets in Houston today, with mighty Dwight Howard, who was able to man the post again in Game 2, after injuring his left knee in the series opener, ready to assert his full worth.
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Not that Houston can’t afford to lose today, because it did spring from a dark 3-1 hole to trip the Los Angles Clippers in making it to the Western Finals.
There’s no doubting coach Kevin McHale’s quiet ability to draw the toughest best from his men in the most trying moments.
But the big question is: Can Houston put up a reliable fence to at least lessen Curry’s classic sharpness off the arc?
Through 12 postseason games, the 6-3, 190-pound Curry averaged 29.1 points, 6.6 assists, 5 rebounds. He was 46.3 percent from the field, 42.5 percent from the 3-point country.
Harden’s stats are almost even with Curry’s numbers.
Meanwhile, there was visible mourning in Atlanta yesterday after LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a neat 2-0 homecourt steal for what now appears an insurmountable playoffs edge in the Eastern Conference.