Golden State Warriors: 5 Takeaways From Crazy Game 3

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Apr 23, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) scores on a three point basket over New Orleans Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans (1) and forward Anthony Davis (23) and guard Quincy Pondexter (20) during the final seconds of the fourth quarter sending the game into overtime in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the Smoothie King Center. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 123-119 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Curry Is A Problem

Understatement of the year? Probably, but if anyone had doubts about Stephen Curry deserving the MVP Award, they were cleared up pretty quickly after last night. To be fair, Curry didn’t have a great shooting night. He finished with 40 points, but he only shot 10-of-29 from the field and missed 11 three-pointers.

Fortunately for the Dubs, all it takes for them to win games sometimes is one Steph Curry heat check. Last night, Curry came to life at the opportune moment, despite having gone 6-for-18 with six minutes left to play in regulation.

To be honest, Curry didn’t even shoot that well in the final minutes of regulation or overtime (4-for-11 from the field, 3-for-8 from downtown). But, as always, he made them when they mattered most. Trailing by five, he pump-faked his defender and knocked down a three to cut New Orleans’ lead to two with 11 seconds left.

Too little too late, right? Wrong. Anthony Davis went 1-for-2 from the foul line, giving the Warriors the ball with nine seconds left and a three-point deficit. Pelicans head coach Monty Williams said the plan was to foul, but his players didn’t get the memo.

Curry missed his first three-point attempt, but Marreese Speights came up huge with an offensive rebound. He fed the ball to Curry in the corner, and well…this amazing thing happened:

Quite frankly, Curry was tackled on that shot and it should have been a four-point play. But even getting clobbered, he drilled it, making two three-pointers in the game’s final 11 seconds. The fact that he drained another three to open overtime just took the wind right out of the Pelicans’ sails.

It wasn’t pretty, but Curry showed once again that even on his off nights, he’s capable of rising to the occasion as this team’s MVP. What’s terrifying is he hasn’t even shot the ball well from three-point range yet.

Much like I predicted Eric Gordon would come crashing back down to earth (2-for-10 shooting, 1-for-6 three-point shooting), it’s only a matter of time before the law of averages favors Curry in the playoffs.

Next: No. 1

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