Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Stephen Curry’s return

After an 11-game absence, Stephen Curry returned to the Golden State Warriors in spectacular fashion. What did we learn from the two-time MVP’s first game back?

Stephen Curry‘s ankle roll on Dec. 4 was frustrating in so many ways. It happened in the final minute of a game that was already decided. It came just before his one annual chance to play in his hometown of Charlotte, and kept him out through Christmas against the Cavs. He was showing some early signs of a hot stretch. The Golden State Warriors lost their best player for almost a month.

It was the first serious ankle injury in either almost five or almost six years, depending on how you define serious, for a player who was once in danger of being remembered primarily for ankle injuries.

All of that is why Curry’s return on Dec. 30 against the Memphis Grizzlies was so heavily anticipated, and why his 38-points-on-17-shots night meant more than it normally would. Let’s look at three of the biggest reasons it mattered.

1. It’s obvious, but…the offense is supercharged

He’s the engine, he creates so much space, he’s so efficient, yadda yadda yadda. Curry’s impact on Golden State’s offense is an exhausted topic in NBA discourse.

What can I say, though? In the 11 games he missed, the Warriors had the NBA’s No. 17 offensive rating at 105.9. On the year, they are an NBA-best 112.8. With Curry on the court, that number is 120.4.

More from Golden State Warriors

• Grade the Trade: Warriors become title-favs in proposed deal with Raptors
• 5 NBA players everyone should be keeping a close eye on in 2023-24
• New detail about title-costing mistake reopens old wounds for Warriors
• 5 NBA players facing do-or-die 2023–2024 seasons
• 7 Harsh realities of the Golden State Warriors offseason

The difference has never been more visibly apparent than over the last two games. After struggling to find any sort of groove against the Hornets, the Warriors came out on the second night of a back-to-back playing like a team on four day’s rest. Most of that energy came from Curry, who made sparks fly every time he touched the ball, or didn’t.

I could explain why, but what’s the point? You already know that he can shoot from the moon, has martian handles and the gravity of Jupiter. It is talked about less, but you also are probably aware of his otherworldly court vision and the light speed tempo he creates.

“Curry made the offense better” is hardly a keen first observation. Yet it is also the only responsible one to make. I mean…

2. Shooting blip or return to form?

Curry was not shooting like Curry before his injury. The 38.1 3-point percentage was one thing, but more troubling was how he arrived at that percentage.

Had he simply been inconsistent, it could have been explained away as early-season noise, but that was not the issue. He hit at least two 3s in all of his 23 games. The problem, insofar as this can be called a problem, was that he never made many more than that. He hit four or fewer 3s in 18 games, five in three games, six once and seven once.

Live Feed

Blue Man Hoop

Against Memphis, he went 10-of-13 from deep. The night was a boon to his percentage (he’s now at 40.3), but it was also something more permanent.

It is not hard to notice when Curry is in his own head. He’ll either force up a bad shot, pass up a good one or take a good one with visible hesitation. Many of Curry’s 2017-18 shots before the injury fell into one of these categories, even ones that went in.

None of his shots against the Grizzlies fit those descriptions. He was wonderfully aggressive, but let his looks come to him.

That doesn’t mean he didn’t create them for himself, or cut hard to get open. In fact, it is just the opposite.

A struggling Curry will focus more on the shot itself, while a locked-in Curry will focus on getting open. He will draw defenders with every intention of giving the ball up and moving to get it right back. He will run his man into a screen, see him start to go over, and bounce back to the other side with a dribble that lands right in his shooting pocket. The shot itself is the easy part.

Curry set an NBA season-high in made 3s in his first game in four weeks. However, it was the process, not the result, that was most encouraging to see.

3. Now, imagine when he’s 100 percent

Curry was sparkling against Memphis. No rust to be seen. That does not mean he was himself, though.

Remember, before his ankle injury, Curry was averaging a career-best 6.5 free-throw attempts per game. He is stronger than ever, more fearless and smarter about drawing contact and selling calls.

The fearlessness part is interesting. Curry’s ankle and MCL woes fading from his memory likely empowered him to attack the basket and seek defenders’ bodies. After this most recent ankle sprain, some hesitancy may creep back into his psyche.

Even if it does, it will fade, especially when the games start to matter. Now, imagine postseason Curry—you know, the guy who has averaged 27.2 points, 6.1 assists and 5.5 rebounds on 62.1 true shooting—getting to the line at a near-elite rate.

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft: End of 2017 edition

This is what Dieter Kurtenbach meant when he posited that Curry may be peaking. His 3s were not going in, but his all-around game was better than ever. If his shooting is back, and his aversion to seek out contact is temporary, Draymond Green might react differently next time he’s asked whether Curry is playing at an all-time high.