Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Warriors know Curry will break out of slump

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Sunday, 05 May 2019 12:15

HOUSTON -- The Golden State Warriors are convinced that star guard Stephen Curry will bounce out of a series-long slump heading into Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal against the Houston Rockets.

"I think Steph has a good balance of beating himself up and just moving on with life," Warriors forward Draymond Green said on Sunday. "And I think that's important. It's part of the reason he's the shooter that he is. I think if you talk to anyone who plays basketball, the toughest thing is to miss shots and keep shooting. Your confidence wavers, you start to think -- Steph will miss four in a row and then heat-check the fifth one. Like from 35 feet. I don't know if that's good or bad, but it [works] for him. So I know he don't make too much off it, as a competitor I know he's pissed with himself and I think that will bode well for us. Probably it's going to lead to some aggressiveness, and we like when he's aggressive so I think he'll be fine."

Curry played arguably his worst game of the season during a 126-121 overtime loss in Game 3 on Saturday night, shooting just 7-for-23 from the field and missing a wide-open breakaway dunk with 19.2 seconds in overtime that left both fans and players stunned. Curry, who dislocated the middle finger on his left hand in the first quarter of Game 2, has brushed aside talk of the injury bothering him, despite the fact that he has had to tape his middle finger and his ring finger together since the injury.

He comes into Game 4 18-for-52 from the field in this series, including only 8-for-32 from beyond the arc.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr had a quick answer ready when asked how Curry responds after a bad game.

"He usually has a good game," Kerr said.

Kerr doesn't expect the two-time MVP to change anything up heading into Monday night.

"He's just really, really competitive and he gets locked in, and he gets a little bit angry," Kerr said. "And he comes out with a lot of focus and a lot of fight, so that's what we're expecting [Monday]."

Green echoed a similar sentiment, saying that he didn't think Curry needed any extra words of encouragement after a rough start to the series.

"I think at times you do," Green said. "And at times you just kind of feel it. Like you can feel when someone needs you, and you can just kind of feel like, 'He got it,' Like who's not saying anything? ... If you're asking me if you say something now, I don't think so."

Kerr said he would continue to have the same regular conversations he has with Curry throughout the season. There is no hint of panic from the Warriors perspective because of Curry's struggles. They have watched him break out of a slump too many times to think this one will last much longer.

"We've known each other for so long now it's not like, 'Hey, come to my office.' or 'I want to meet you,'" Kerr said. "We just chat. We just chat in passing. There's nothing planned, but my job as a coach is to help the players succeed, give them a little idea what they can do to maybe make an impact in one area or another. So those conversations happen all the time."

Of course, it's easier to handle Curry's slump while watching Kevin Durant continue to dominate offensively the way he has this postseason. Durant enters Game 4 averaging 35.6 points in the postseason, while shooting 51.5 percent from the field.

"I don't really understand what he's doing right now either," Green said with a smile of Durant's performance. "It's pretty amazing, obviously for us to have that option. Just kind of give somebody the ball and get the hell out of the way. It's definitely beneficial for us, so for him to take over the game like he did in the third quarter, there's not much a defense can do. That's good for us, but I can't really tell you what Kevin is doing, scoring whenever he wants to."

Aside from Durant's brilliance, the other good news for the Warriors is that Kerr said Sunday that injured center Damian Jones will be cleared for contact next week. Jones has been out since Dec. 1 after tearing his left pectoral muscle. Kerr left open the possibility that both Jones and DeMarcus Cousins (torn quad) could still return in the postseason if they continue progressing during their rehab.

Read 1479 times

Soccer

NYCFC's new stadium to be named Etihad Park

NYCFC's new stadium to be named Etihad Park

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNew York City FC's $780 million, 25,000-seat venue that it intends...

Sources: Tuchel hires Hilario as England GK coach

Sources: Tuchel hires Hilario as England GK coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThomas Tuchel is set to add Chelsea goalkeeping coach Hilario to hi...

Son lauds Palestine spirit as example to follow

Son lauds Palestine spirit as example to follow

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTottenham captain Son Heung-Min praised the spirit showed by Palest...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Mavs' Doncic out at least week with wrist strain

Mavs' Doncic out at least week with wrist strain

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic has sustained a right wrist strai...

Jenkins becomes Grizzlies' winningest coach

Jenkins becomes Grizzlies' winningest coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Taylor Jenkins has moved to the top of the Memphi...

Baseball

Pirates hire former player Hague as hitting coach

Pirates hire former player Hague as hitting coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have hired Matt Hague as their...

Is Aaron Judge the best pure home run hitter of all time?

Is Aaron Judge the best pure home run hitter of all time?

EmailOpen Extended ReactionsRemember Aaron Judge? The guy who hit 58 home runs? Had the highest sing...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated