Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 2 vs. Rockets

2. We know what Curry we’re getting

After his first game back from his MCL sprain, Curry was spectacular. His next three games were a mixed bag, before delivering two clunkers on the road.

That was in 2016. With an eerily similar six-game sample in 2018, we can say that this is roughly the same version Of Curry. If anything, his 2018 return has been slightly more impressive. Mostly  because his “clunkers” have been relatively less clunky.

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His 34 points through two games in Houston falls short of his 43 in that disastrous pair of OKC games in 2016, but he has been smarter and more composed this time around. His 44.1 percent shooting (15-of-34) and three turnovers have been far easier for the Warriors to overcome than his 35.1 percent clip (13-of-37) and seven turnovers were in 2016.

The first iteration of post-MCL Curry was learning how to deal with his compromised powers. Now, he knows his limitations.

That doesn’t mean Curry is being less aggressive. It’s simply that he’s making up for his lack of burst by valuing possession and trading off-the-dribble 3s for mid-rangers. Despite taking three less field goal attempts in the two Houston games than he did in the OKC games, he’s taken five more 2-pointers. The shots are more manageable for his lower body, and are just as efficient given his historic inside-the-arc jump shot proficiency.

Video Game Curry will likely reappear. He put together one of the best three-game stretches ever to close out that OKC series, two of which came at Oracle.

With this series tied 1-1 and shifting to Oakland, the Warriors point guard is similarly compromised, but better prepared to push his team toward the Finals.

Call him Hobbled Curry 2.0.