In one sentence, Ime Udoka undoubtedly perfectly summed up the Rockets’ meeting against Stephen Curry. “We can’t give him an opening because he’s so dangerous. I can’t say I felt it coming, but I know it’s possible. I played and coached against him enough for that. »
Because for three quarters, the Houston players contained the Warriors playmaker rather well. The main danger was more Klay Thompson than Stephen Curry, who didn’t force anything but didn’t have open shots or success.
The proof: when he returned to the floor in the last quarter, he only posted 10 points at 2/8 shooting. Then, in just two minutes, the MVP of the 2022 Finals scores four award-winning baskets to ring the Rockets, and finish with 24 points at 6/14 at 3-pts.
“That’s why he’s a great player. He is capable, even in a bad match, of finding the solution to put the shots at the end, to allow his team to overcome the obstacle. notes Dillon Brooks, who danced well on the last one, for the Houston Chronicle. “We defended him well the majority of the match,” confirms the Texan coach. “Then we missed a defense, he got an open shot and started feeling good. »
All it takes is a spark…
This failure in defense is Jae’Sean Tate who falls behind Stephen Curry while Kevon Looney makes a screen. Alperen Sengun hesitates and in that short moment, the two-time MVP found space. He is completely free to hit 3-pointers.
“We need to be more disciplined and follow instructions,” assures Jae’Sean Tate. “I know I missed a defense where I was supposed to change, especially against a player like that. We can’t give him any space. Several times, in this last act, we were punished. That’s what great teams do. »
The Rockets, who still haven’t won this season, have a bitter feeling in their mouth: they did a very good job of limiting Stephen Curry but fell short for a few seconds. That’s more than enough for the best shooter in history…
“He only made six 3-pointers and those were his only baskets of the match, so I think I did a good job,” Judge Dillon Brooks. “I think Dillon was good on him during this meeting. The worst part is that he probably had more open shots in the first half. analyzes Fred VanVleet. “The shots he took in the last quarter were huge. He is clearly one of the best, he has demonstrated it. »
| Stephen Curry | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2009-10 | GOS | 80 | 36 | 46.2 | 43.7 | 88.5 | 0.6 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 5.9 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 17.5 |
| 2010-11 | GOS | 74 | 34 | 48.0 | 44.2 | 93.4 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 18.6 |
| 2011-12 | GOS | 26 | 28 | 49.0 | 45.5 | 80.9 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 14.7 |
| 2012-13 | GOS | 78 | 38 | 45.1 | 45.3 | 90.0 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 6.9 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 22.9 |
| 2013-14 | GOS | 78 | 37 | 47.1 | 42.4 | 88.5 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 8.5 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 24.0 |
| 2014-15 ★ | GOS | 80 | 33 | 48.7 | 44.3 | 91.4 | 0.7 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 7.7 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 23.8 |
| 2015-16 ★ | GOS | 79 | 34 | 50.4 | 45.4 | 90.8 | 0.9 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 6.7 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 30.1 |
| 2016-17 | GOS | 79 | 33 | 46.8 | 41.1 | 89.8 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 25.3 |
| 2017-18 | GOS | 51 | 32 | 49.5 | 42.3 | 92.1 | 0.7 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 26.4 |
| 2018-19 | GOS | 69 | 34 | 47.2 | 43.7 | 91.6 | 0.7 | 4.7 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 27.3 |
| 2019-20 | GOS | 5 | 28 | 40.2 | 24.5 | 100.0 | 0.8 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 6.6 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 20.8 |
| 2020-21 | GOS | 63 | 34 | 48.2 | 42.1 | 91.6 | 0.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.1 | 32.0 |
| 2021-22 | GOS | 64 | 35 | 43.7 | 38.0 | 92.3 | 0.5 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 6.3 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 25.5 |
| 2022-23 | GOS | 56 | 35 | 49.3 | 42.7 | 91.5 | 0.7 | 5.4 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 29.4 |
| 2023-24 | GOS | 2 | 33 | 56.4 | 45.8 | 100.0 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 34.0 |
| Total | 884 | 34 | 47.5 | 42.8 | 90.9 | 0.7 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 6.5 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 24.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
