Golden State Warriors: 5 keys to conference finals vs. Rockets
2. Splash Bros handling the first real challenge of their careers
Curry and Thompson started their first game together on the final day of 2011. Filling in for an injured Monta Ellis, Thompson went 1-of-3 from the field, and the Warriors lost 101-79 to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The next time they started together was opening night of the 2012-13 season. Ellis was gone, opening the door for Thompson, and Curry was coming off ankle surgery.
The Warriors beat the Phoenix Suns 87-85, but Thompson and Curry were not great in that game, either. They combined for 21 points on 30 shots, to go along with eight turnovers.
At some point that season, it clicked. Maybe it was two games later in Los Angeles, when Curry drew a crucial charge from Paul and combined with Thompson to score 40 in a road win over the Clippers. Or maybe it was when they scored a then career-high 59 points in Philadelphia, making up for their previous Sixers debacle.
Certainly by their Round 2 series against the Spurs, when they dropped 63 in Game 1 and 56 in Game 2, it was clear: Curry and Thompson were the NBA’s best backcourt.
They have been for the half-decade since.
Beyond their remarkable individual talent, the two flourish as a pairing. Thompson, the ultimate catch-and-shoot guy in league history, gives Curry the space he needs to dazzle. On the flip side, Curry’s ability to command double-teams, collapse the defense and draw attention as a decoy screener has freed Thompson just as many shots as vice versa. When the defense recovers to one, the other finds himself in an even more advantageous position.
While their effects multiply on offense, they cancel each other out defensively. Curry has improved his strength and on-ball acumen, but still remains overmatched against quality scoring guards. Thompson, meanwhile, is arguably the best on-ball backcourt defender in the league. He takes the best opposing guard every night, allowing Curry to play passing lanes, help in the post, stay out of foul trouble and conserve energy for offense.
You probably already know of all this. However, if you think the Warriors are going to mop the floor with Houston, you are missing a glaring reality: Harden and Paul break the Curry-Thompson dynamic.
From the State Farm commercial to the ankle-breaker-heard-round-the-world to Golden State’s 9,000,000 consecutive wins over the Clippers, Curry has owned Paul for years.
For Paul, this was not a fair fight. While Curry clowned him on one end, Thompson guarded him on the other. This is no longer feasible, however, given the Rockets’ personnel and scheme. Curry will have to guard Paul, given the presence of Harden.
Any attempt to avoid this reality may cause more problems. If Kerr hides Curry on Ariza or Tucker, D’Antoni will have them screen for Harden and force a switch or a trap. This will lead to an even worse situation for Golden State: Curry on Harden, or Ariza/Tucker running a 4-on-3. In both situations, Paul will be spacing the floor, with Capela looming in the dunker spot.
In turn, this will wear Curry down offensively. We saw Tyronn Lue‘s deliberate involvement of Curry defensively affect his overall game in the 2016 NBA Finals. His injury also rendered Thompson less effective, given the single coverage the Cleveland Cavaliers devoted to Curry.
The same could happen in this series, especially given the repeat circumstance of Curry’s sprained knee.
None of this means that Rockets will win the series. Curry is still the best player of the bunch, and could transcend his body (like he did against OKC, a round before that Cleveland series). Even if the Rockets play the Warriors backcourt to a draw, it will not be enough given the presence of Durant.
But what if Paul and Harden win the matchup decisively? What if they dominate it, exacting revenge for all the years Curry and Thompson ganged up on them?
As with so many of these questions, this will be a short series if it swings Golden State’s way. If it works out for Houston, it will be a long one.