Stephen Curry Steals Spotlight On Father’s Night

On Wednesday night, the Charlotte Hornets honored arguably their best player in franchise history, Dell Curry.

In 10 seasons in Charlotte, Curry became the franchise leader in points and three-point field goals made. The Hornets/Bobcats were off to their best start in franchise history. This seemed like the perfect night to honor the Hornet great, but the only problem was the Hornets’ opponent was the Golden State Warriors, who were off their own best start in franchise and NBA history at 19-0.

The Warriors have their own Curry, Stephen Curry, and he was out to steal the spotlight from his illustrious father. Curry got off to a slow start by his standards, only scoring 12 points in the first half with the Warriors leading by nine. At halftime, Curry came out to watch his father’s ceremony along with his immediate family. Dell gave a great speech about how much the city of Charlotte meant to him and thanked all the people who helped him succeed. Curry heard all of this and seemed inspired by it. As the second half began, Curry showed everyone why he is the reigning MVP and the best player in the game.

With the game still in doubt, Curry asserted his dominance and went on a scoring spree only he could accomplish. Curry scored the Warriors final 24 points of the quarter, scoring in a variety of ways and sucking the life out of Time Warner Cable Arena. Curry started his rampage by getting fouled on a three by his point guard counterpart, Kemba Walker. After a driving layup, Curry began his journey to human-torch mode.

After a Draymond Green missed three, Andrew Bogut grabbed the rebound and found Curry in the corner for a wide open three. Curry was wide open in the left corner because Walker was under the hoop, fighting for the rebound. When Bogut found Curry in the corner, Walker’s reaction was priceless. Walker slumped his shoulders because he knew Curry was going to drain the three, and he did.

From there, Curry showed everyone how far his range reaches. Everyone knows Curry has the best range in the entire league but it is the variety of jumpers and layups that make him so dangerous. In that third quarter alone, he hit five three-pointers, ranging from 25 feet to 30 feet. With the quickest release in the game, he can take his shot at any time in any situation. Two of his threes illustrated this perfectly on Wednesday night.

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The first three showed how quick his release is coming off a screen. Throughout a game, Curry is constantly moving without the ball and the best way for his team get him the ball is setting good screens so he can get open looks. It was no different on Wednesday night when Andre Iguodala, one of the Warriors’ best passers, found Curry at the top of the key. Curry was locked up by Walker so he did not have much air space to get his shot off. Curry was unfazed by Walker’s defense as he caught the ball at his chest, rose up and, in an instant, knocked down the jumper.

In transition, Curry is just as lethal and to end his incredible third quarter, he did not disappoint. With the game already in hand, Curry finished his onslaught with another pull up three from 30 feet as he dribbled up the court, stopped on a dime, rose up and dropped another three in Walker’s face. It was his second 30 foot jumper of the game and fourth of the season. Curry is shooting 40 percent from 30 feet or deeper while the rest of the league is shooting under 20 percent.

Curry finished the quarter with 28 points, tying a career-high, including 24 straight. He shot 10 of 11 from the field, 5 of 5 on threes and 3 of 3 from the foul line. It was his fifth 20 point quarter in 20 games. Russell Westbrook led the league last season with just four. He had 40 points through three quarters and his reward was to sit on the bench for the fourth. It was the fourth time this season Curry sat out a fourth quarter after scoring 40 points through three. Curry has proved this season that he is unguardable and the best show to watch.

The Warriors went on to win their 20th straight game and 24th straight overall, but this was just a footnote because of Curry’s remarkable performance. On a night where the Hornets should have been celebrating the elder Curry, they instead saw his son dominate their team once again.

If this was a ploy to lure the Baby Faced Assassin to his hometown of Charlotte, it did not work out too well for the home team. Charlotte fans will keep wishing and dreaming for their wonder kid to come home but for now, Stephen Curry is right where he needs to be: on a championship contender in the Bay Area.