GSW-Clippers, Stephen Curry: “We’ll Prove We’re Great”
Curry is calling on the Warriors to raise their level in the Play-In matchup against the Clippers, the most important game of Golden State’s season
The fate of the Western Conference will be decided in one night as the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers face off. Ninth versus tenth. A win-or-go-home showdown that brings years of rivalry onto the floor.
Stephen Curry, still averaging 26.6 points per game at age 38 while shooting 39% from beyond the arc, remains the ultimate difference-maker. Asked about the difference between dominating in the regular season and rising in the biggest moments, the four-time NBA champion did not hesitate:
Success defines who you are only when you go through certain battles. It’s about producing when it matters most. Some people fold and some show up; some have the resilience to move on from a bad night and respond immediately
Stephen Curry
Words from someone who has built an entire career on clutch moments.
The Clippers’ Plan to Stop Curry
On the other side, the Clippers know that any path to the playoffs begins and ends with containing No. 30. Kawhi Leonard, with the humility typical of great players, acknowledged the magnitude of the moment:
Sharing the floor with a player like that is something you can’t take for granted. They have championship DNA, and we have to squeeze everything we can out of this season
Kawhi Leonard
But while Kawhi – already the focus of a specific defensive plan from Steve Kerr – has kept a low profile, head coach Tyronn Lue chose humor when addressing the challenge ahead. After facing Curry in three separate NBA Finals (going 1-2 against him as Cavaliers coach), Lue joked with reporters:
I’m sick of him! He’s a guy who can explode – if you’re not careful, he’ll give you 50. In the last game he had 24 with nine three-point attempts; we can’t let him get that kind of volume if we want a chance
Tyronn Lue
The regular-season finale between the two teams showed a Golden State squad that was competitive but vulnerable in the details. Tomorrow brings an unforgiving rematch: the loser won’t take the floor again until October, while the winner keeps its playoff hopes alive.