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Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry is better in the playoffs than you think

By Tony Pesta

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts late in the game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Three of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 05, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts late in the game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Three of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 05, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Stephen Curry is constantly ridiculed for never winning a Finals MVP. But, the Golden State Warriors’ superstar is better in the playoffs than you think.

There isn’t much you can criticize Stephen Curry for. His impact reaches far beyond the Golden State Warriors and he has changed the way basketball is played. Three championships, two MVP’s and multiple records help solidify his case as one of the all-time greats.

Even in all of his greatness, Curry is repeatedly called a poor playoff performer. He was notoriously ‘clamped’ by Matthew Delladova in the 2015 NBA Finals and ever since then he has been dubbed a choker. Blowing a 3-1 lead in 2016 only added to this narrative.

However, these claims look awfully silly when analyzing Curry’s overall performances. He averages 26.5 points, 6.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds in the postseason. Furthermore, he shoots a strong clip of 44/37/94. In terms of efficiency, he posts a higher Effective Field Goal percentage than LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant. This is pretty good company for such an underwhelming playoff performer.

The only real knock on Curry’s resume is his lack of a Finals MVP Award. But even that can be debated. There is a real argument to be had that Curry should have won the 2015 Finals MVP when looking back at the series. Following his slow start, Steph scored 28.0 points on nearly 50 percent shooting from the floor and 3-point line in the final three games to seal the title.

Another common claim is that Curry was playing in Durant’s shadow. Yes, Durant averaged more points than Curry during the playoffs, but Curry’s 27.5 points per game in the 2018 Finals marked the most EVER from a second option on a championship team.

Unless you ignore all of the evidence, it’s hard to say Curry did anything other than carry his own weight in the playoffs. In fact, he often did more than his fair share on both ends of the floor. Whether you like it or not, Curry is a legend in every way.

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