Golden State Warriors: Two-time MVP Stephen Curry has returned

The Golden State Warriors have called upon Stephen Curry to carry them through the Western Conference Finals. So far, he’s delivered.

Kevin Durant went down in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. Since then, the Golden State Warriors have won four straight games, two of which were double-figure victories. They’ve been able to do so behind outstanding performances from former two-time MVP Stephen Curry.

Most recently, Curry lit up the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 3 of the Conference Finals. He scored 36 points, making six triples. He also tallied six rebounds and three assists. This dominance has become the typical night at the office for Curry.

Over the course of the Conference Finals, which have gone on for three games, Curry has averaged over 36 points per game. That’s incredible. Prior to Durant’s injury, Curry was averaging under 24 points per game on under 45% from the field.

He’s turned his game up in the star’s absence.

It’s important for both his legacy and his the team’s dynasty that he’s brought back his two-time MVP self. Curry, throughout most of this season, was excellent, but he wasn’t quite as lethal as the 2015 version of himself.

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That said, this Curry was brewing the entire postseason. After a 12 and 17-point performance in the team’s first 12 playoffs games, Curry found his rhythm. He stopped deferring to ultimately the most gifted scorer in the game.

Instead, he took over.

He’s gone from taking under 18 shots per game to over 20 per game in the Dubs most recent series. While this has directly correlated with the impact, or lack thereof, of Durant, it’s been Curry and teammate Draymond Green who have been the biggest beneficiary from Durant’s injury.

This is just another example of how selfless Curry is. Has he been the most humble superstar the NBA has ever seen? Probably not, but what he has done is willingly been the league’s unanimous MVP and continued to take a backseat when Durant was rolling.

When it’s mattered, Curry has erupted. With nine threes, four threes and six threes, Curry gotten back to what he’s best at. He’s the better shooter to ever grace the hardwood. Although he hasn’t been efficient from deep outside of Game 1, he’s been shooting, keeping the defense honest.

The Warriors need Curry. They needed the eruption to happen, and it may just be the eruption that’s saved this team. They would’ve beat Portland with Durant and will likely without him, but getting Curry into the score-first mentality will be important against a more challenging Eastern Conference foe.

The unanimous MVP has returned, and it’s exactly what Golden State has needed.