Apr 21, 2021
Steph Curry’s Record-Breaking Streak is NBA 2K Personified
There are a few debatable positions and traits in the NBA except one. To say Steph Curry is the greatest shooter is an understatement. Behind that jovial smile is a deadly assassin who has revolutionized the game of basketball. He is a threat every time he steps past the half-court. Yet his current purple patch is just beyond anyone’s belief. Not only has it ignited playoff hopes for the Warriors but brought Steph back into the MVP conversation. The place where he rightfully belongs.
It’s important to understand the context before deep-diving into some statistics and records. Warriors have been reeling from the after-effects of a consistent Finals run in the last decade and have been short-handed in the scoring front this season. It was simply too much to ask of Steph to even keep Warriors in contention without his usual partner in crime, Klay Thompson. And here we are, a month before the start of the playoffs, with Warriors hovering around the play-in spot. This is an unprecedented effort even by Steph’s standards. Guess what, doesn’t look like he is slowing down anytime soon.
Ever since his return after his tailbone injury, the man has been scorching hot. I will just put some numbers down for everyone still curious about all the noise surrounding him:
- He has scored 30+ points in the last 11 games with 4 games of 40+ points and 1 game of 50+ points.
- He made 29 3-pointers in 3 consecutive games, 46 3-pointers in the last 5 games and 72 3-pointers in the last 10 games.
- He has averaged 40 PPG on 50% FG, 40% 3PG and 90% FT in this 11 games span, the first ever to do so.
- He has now made 10 or more 3 pointers in 6 games this season and 21 games in his overall career. Just to put it in perspective, the second-best record is 5 games for Klay Thompson in his entire career.
- He beat the record of Kobe and Jordan for a player aged 33 years or older to score 40+ points in 5 games in a month this April
- He also passed Kobe’s streak by scoring 30+ points in 11 straight games for player aged 33 or older.
- He passed Bradley Beal to become the league leader in scoring and PPG.
- He has now made 200 3-pointers in 8 different seasons.
These are just video game numbers. Even 2K would crash when a player would get this heated and the opposition doesn’t have the option to rage quit. During the All-Star game, he ridiculed everyone with no-look 3 and daggers from the logo. His comeback at the 3-point contest reminded folks of Larry Bird when he stepped in the dressing room in the same contest in 1988 and asked Who’s shooting for 2nd. Even as an opposition fan you can simply lose yourself in his swishes so pure they grace the net without touching the rim.
Steph deserves way more credit than he gets. As a point guard, his impact on the game rivals that of Magic Johnson. It’s a treat to watch Steph elevate his team single-handedly. He has reached major milestones this season by passing Reggie Miller as 2nd on the all-time 3 pointers made and Wilt Chamberlain as the greatest scorer for the Warriors franchise. He is cementing his legacy in the top echelon of the greats of this game.
Steph said earlier this season that the teams are enjoying beating the Warriors when they are down considering they have done the same a few years back. At 33 he is still going strong and he rightfully warned us about it when he said his best is yet to come. I think the top seeds in the West are in deep trouble if the Warriors qualify for the playoffs. They will surely look to avoid Curry in a best of 7 as the man is on a mission. We should be grateful for we are witnessing the greatest shooter of the game at the peak of his powers.
