Tag: Steph Curry

Warriors almost got a technical foul celebrating Christmas Day upset

The Warriors bench was so excited celebrating their upset win over the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day that the team almost got a technical foul after the game.

As we approach the end of 2019, the common theme for the year when it pertains to Golden State Warriors basketball has been injuries. Nearly every player on the Warriors’ roster has dealt with their fair share of injuries, with the biggest hits coming to All-Stars, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Injuries have turned Golden State from a perineal contender to a team looking at a high lottery pick when the draft rolls around—it’s safe to say this is new territory for the Warriors.

For a team that ripped through the NBA for five-straight seasons, now in 2019, the Warriors haven’t had much to celebrate. The arrival of D’Angelo Russell and the development of rookie Eric Paschall has been fun. Still, when it comes to evidence Golden State can hang their hat on, the cabinet was looking bare—until Christmas day.

The Warriors completed the biggest upset in 30 years on the NBA’s Christmas day slate when they knocked off their rival, the Houston Rockets, 116-104 at home. A surprising Christmas gift that the fans could be proud of, as well as the players.

From Curry and Thompson on the bench, to Draymond Green flexing away after hitting a pair of timely three-pointers, you could tell the Christmas day moment meant something special to this edition of the Golden State squad.

Following the dramatic upset, Steve Kerr told reporters that the Warriors were almost in jeopardy of getting a technical foul for how they celebrated after the final whistle, and the championship coach’s response was priceless.

“At one point the ref told me— he wanted me to tell our guys not to run on the floor. And I said, ‘That’s not happening—we’ve had a lousy season—We’re going to run on the floor.’ I said, ‘If you’ve got to call a T— you’ve got to call a T.’ And he said, ‘All right, fair enough—so, it was a good night.”

The Warriors victory on Christmas day extended their longest win streak of the season at three, and now have the struggling Phoenix Suns coming to Chase Center. Golden State could parlay their emotional win against Houston into another notch on their season-long winning streak.

James Harden: The world misses Steph Curry, Klay Thompson

Even after a tough loss on the holiday stage, Rockets star James Harden showed respect for his injured All-Star peers in Golden State.

In Wednesday’s loss on Christmas Day at Golden State, Rockets superstar James Harden had one of his lowest-scoring games of the 2019-20 NBA season to date with 24 points. Though he did have 11 assists, that point total was down more than 14 points from his league-leading average.

The Warriors routinely trapped and double teamed Harden near the halfcourt line, and his Houston teammates couldn’t take advantage of the resulting four-on-three scenarios. In all, the Rockets shot just 7-of-29 (24.1%) on three-pointers that were wide open. The team’s defensive effort was inconsistent throughout the game, as well.

Even with All-Star guards Steph Curry and Klay Thompson sidelined by long-term injuries, the shorthanded Warriors (8-24) still got the best of the Rockets (21-10) in the 116-104 win. Despite the frustrating loss to an old rival, though, Harden immediately showed respect to Golden State’s ailing stars in the postgame locker room.

Harden said:

The world and the game is missing Steph and Klay. Obviously the game is missing them, obviously their fans are missing them. It would have been a great, competitive game — they beat us without them, so for us we gotta regroup.

It was an impressive show of class and composure from Harden after what was undoubtedly one of Houston’s most frustrating losses of the season.

The Warriors have knocked the Rockets out of the NBA playoffs in four of the past five seasons, and on paper, it looked like an easy opportunity for revenge on the league’s holiday stage. Instead, it was a deflating loss to a shorthanded rival — with the so-called “Splash Brothers” on the bench in suits — that Houston will likely remember for its missed opportunities.

[lawrence-related id=20513]

The Rockets have two more games this season against the Warriors on Feb. 20 and April 2. With both games after the All-Star break, it’s not implausible that Curry (hand) and/or Thompson (knee) could return for at least the second of those contests.

In the grand scheme, though, the Christmas Day loss was only one game of 82 on the regular-season schedule. The Rockets finished a tough West Coast road trip at 3-1, including a statement win over Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and the Clippers in Los Angeles just a few days earlier, and are only a half-game back of Denver for the No. 2 seed in the West.

As a result, frustrating as Wednesday’s defeat may have been, there’s no need to excessively dwell on the loss in San Francisco. Harden’s postgame attitude would seem to suggest that they’re ready to move on quickly.

Houston has back-to-back games coming up on Saturday at home versus Brooklyn and then Sunday at New Orleans. Russell Westbrook is unlikely to play in the second for maintenance, though it’s possible the Rockets could have Eric Gordon back from injury to fill some of the minutes.

[lawrence-related id=19880,20458]

Steph Curry is surprising young teammates as the superstar with no ego

While dealing with an extended injury, two-time MVP Stephen Curry is helping serve as an “extra coach” from the sideline according to one young Warrior.

Stephen Curry and Marquese Chriss, are on two separate ends of the NBA spectrum, one a two-time MVP and three-time champion, and the other a former lottery pick on his fourth team since 2016.

However, according to Chriss, the former unanimous MVP with enough NBA-superstar clout to walk on water, acts as just another player with no ego at all.

In practice following Golden State’s 116-104 Christmas day win, Chriss told reporters it can be weird how a player of Curry’s ilk treats his teammates with normalcy.

“He talks to everybody, and it’s weird for me,” Chriss said at the Warriors’ post-Christmas practice. “Somebody being so good— you expect them to have an ego, and you know—kinda keep to themselves, but he talks to everyone like they’re on the same level as him—I think that it makes for a good culture around here.”

Since having the pins removed from his surgically repaired broken left hand, Curry has been able to be around the team on a more consistent level, from the practice facility to the sideline.

Last week after the Warriors’ first consecutive wins of the 2019-20 season, Steve Kerr, Alec Burks and D’Angelo Russell all praised the impact Curry has when he’s on Golden State’s bench.

Now, the Dubs are on their first three-game win streak of the season, Curry has been on the bench for all three—coincidence? Chriss doesn’t think so.

“It’s benefitted us the last few games that he’s been here and been on the bench,” said Chriss. “He’s kinda like an extra coach over there.”

High praise from the former Washington Husky who’s played with veteran All-Star’s like Carmelo Anthony, James Harden, Chris Paul, and Kevin Love.

While the Warriors are in a transition period with Curry and Klay Thompson sidelined due to injury, establishing a positive culture in a down season is crucial for Golden State’s future development. While injured, Curry and Thompson are finding ways to still impact their team via coaching and energy only the “Splash Brothers” can provide.

With Curry and Thompson again expected to be on the bench, the Warriors will have the opportunity to extend their winning streak to four when the Phoenix Suns travel to San Francisco. After starting hot, the Suns have lost their last seven contests, while Golden State is currently playing their best brand of basketball this season.

Injured Steph Curry and Klay Thompson bringing new energy to Warriors

The Warriors are without both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson because of injury, but they’re still finding ways to help out the struggling Warriors from the sideline.

The Warriors have been without both “Splash Brothers,” Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry for a significant part of the 2019-20 season, and to say it’s hurt Golden State would be an understatement.

Although the Warriors have won their past two games, they still sit near the bottom of the NBA standings with a 7-24 record. A large contingent of those losses have come because Golden State is missing their pair of All-NBA guards.

Thompson’s missed every game this season, while Curry’s been out since Halloween. Dealing with long-term injuries have taken away Curry and Thompson from the team as they rehab.

Now with Curry in the next stage of his rehab, he’s able to be around the team more, next to Thompson, who’s been on the bench on and off throughout the season.

The benefit of having two championship-caliber guard cheering on a struggling group of young Warriors’ players has been crucial in the team’s recent success.

Swingman, Alec Burks told reporters after the Warriors 113-104 win against the Timberwolves that Curry and Thompson being around the team during this time is critical.

“I think just seeing them anywhere, just being around, because you know they don’t have to be around because of their injuries— they don’t have to be here,” said Burks. “Them doing their rehab here, being around the guys still joking and laughing—I think that’s big for a young team to see that,”

All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell said having Thompson and Curry back on the bench brings contagious energy not only to the team, but the fanbase at Chase Center.

“You feel that energy—the crowd wants that,” said Russell. “They play their part too, and you got those guys on the bench leading the way with that energy—it’s contagious.”

Without veteran stalwarts like Shaun Livingston, David West and Andrew Bogut on the Warriors roster anymore, Steve Kerr is looking for Curry and Klay to step up as leaders, even from the bench, or the practice floor.

“I think our young guys are learning every day, and Steph and Klay have been leaders for a long time, and so many of our other leaders have moved on; they really stand out along with Draymond—they’re the foundation of this team,” said Kerr to reporters after the Minnesota game. “To have them here cheering the guys on—working out around them being on the practice floor—I think it’s really good for our young guys.”

Although the Warriors are in a transition period, not many rosters with a bottom of the barrel record have the support of two future Hall of Famers on their bench.

Steph Curry able to make ‘basketball movements’ in new stage of rehab

The Warriors got a dose of positive news when injured guard, Stephen Curry joined the team at their recent practice over the Holiday weekend.

All-Star guard Stephen Curry hasn’t suited up for the Warriors since the day before Halloween as he’s been dealing with a fracture in his left hand, but there is positive news surrounding the two-time MVP’s injury.

The Warriors are still on track to stick with their initial plan to reevaluate Curry in February, but he did make an appearance at the Warriors’ recent practice Sunday morning.

Steve Kerr made it clear that Curry isn’t shooting the basketball yet. Yet, he has been able to do “basketball movements” since having the pins removed from his surgically repaired hand.

“He’s been doing basketball movements,” Kerr told reporters Sunday morning. “He hasn’t been shooting the ball, but he’s been out on the floor and doing a lot of lateral movements—jumping that kind of stuff.”

Curry’s been injured for nearly two months while his team has struggled, and Kerr’s just happy to now have his two-time MVP back in the gym with the new-look Warriors roster.

“It’s nice to have him in the gym,” Kerr said. “It feels better when he’s around.”

After the Warriors end their current five-game road stand, Kerr said he’d like to have Curry around the team as much as possible, even on road trips.

“We’d like to have him with the team as much as possible,” said Kerr. “I haven’t talked to him about our next trip, but I’m sure he will be around the team more and more now that he’s allowed to be up here with our staff.”

Although it’s a positive step for Curry to be back with Golden State on a more regular basis, expect the Warriors to be extremely patient with their All-Star shooter.

The other half of the Splash Brother contingent, Klay Thompson is still recovering from an ACL injury while the Warriors have 24 losses through 30 games into the NBA season, there is absolutely no reason to rush Curry back.

Tiger Woods makes USA TODAY’s top 50 athletes of the decade

Tiger Woods checked in at No. 30 on USA TODAY Sports’ top 50 athletes of the decade.

Tiger Woods checked in at No. 30 on USA TODAY Sports’ top 50 athletes of the decade.

Thirty-five members of the USA TODAY Sports staff voted to determine the list. Points were given in descending order, so an athlete who was voted No. 1 received 25 points, followed by No. 2 receiving 24 points and so on. Point totals are in parentheses.

Here’s why Woods is No. 30:

“Woods hasn’t been the same since he crashed his Escalade outside his Florida mansion on the day after Thanksgiving in 2009. He endured personal scandal and several surgical procedures on his back. But Woods had his share of moments of triumph on the golf course. He was named PGA Tour Player of the Year in 2013 and won 11 tournaments in the 2010s. His Masters victory in 2019 was one of the decade’s most dramatic moments and marked his 15th career major, keeping Woods within reach of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18.”

World No. 1 Brooks Koepka showed up T-41.

“The 29-year-old golfer became one of the best big-game players on the planet in the last few years of the decade. He captured four major titles – twice taking home the PGA Championship (2018 and 2019) and twice winning the U.S. Open (2017 and 2018). When he wasn’t winning in 2019 he was in the hunt, finishing second at the Masters, second at the U.S. Open and fourth at the British Open.”

USA TODAY: Top 50 athletes of the decade

Other names of interest: Steph Curry checks in at No. 7. Ok, golf is just a hobby for him, but the dude has game. Tiger’s old girlfriend Lindsay Vonn made the list at No. 24. Rory McIlroy was listed second in the Others Receiving Votes category.

Oh, and LeBron James was No. 1 and Serena Williams was No. 2, in case you were wondering. See the full list here for more.

[jwplayer Aaoz8cWl-9JtFt04J]

[lawrence-related id=778017477,778017417,778017331]

LeBron said he wanted to copy Currys when rooting for his son, school

LeBron James said he wanted to take some notes from Steph Curry’s Mom Sonya on how to support diverging rooting interests.

This weekend was a new experience for LeBron James, not because he and his Los Angeles Lakers are barnstorming through the Eastern Conference on their current road trip, but because he saw his son play in a real high school game for the first time and it happened in LeBron’s home state of Ohio against his alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s of Akron, Ohio.

His son Bronny honored his father by wearing his Dad’s first signature shoe, the Air Zoom Generation, in the St. Vincent-St. Mary’s colorway. But LeBron himself took a more neutral turn, not even wearing a pair of his own signature shoes. During a halftime interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, LeBron said that he wanted to take a page from the book of Sonya Curry and Dell Curry, the parents of Steph and Seth, who often wear gear for both of their rooting interests.

James will always have an interest in St. Vincent-St. Mary’s, still coached by his high school coach Dru Joyce II. James also donated $1 million to SVSM a few years ago to refurbish their home gym.

But he may not need the Sonya Curry strategy until Sierra Canyon plays against St. V again.

D’Angelo Russell doesn’t worry about Warriors potentially trading him

Warriors guard D’Angelo Russell isn’t worrying about possibly being moved as trade season looms.

Golden State Warriors guard D’Angelo Russell is playing his fifth NBA season, and by now he’s hip to how teams handle their business.

That’s why with trade season looming, Russell isn’t fretting over the Warriors possibly moving him. Dec. 15 is when players who signed deals as free agents over the offseason are eligible to be traded. A restricted free agent over the offseason, Russell joined the Warriors via the sign-and-trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets.

In a story written by The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, Russell talked about how he isn’t worrying about the possibility of being traded.

“I just don’t care (about the buzz),” Russell said. “Simple as that. I just don’t care. “When you say max contract to come in and learn from these guys as much as you can as quick as you can — because you don’t know when you’ll be gone, shipped out — that’s what I’m doing. I can’t control that. I can’t control if Bob Myers is like, yo, let’s go get such and such for this and make this pick. That’s his job. I can’t control it or say anything about it, especially if I’m a part of it. So I don’t waste energy worrying about it.”

With Russell’s max contract, he is signed for four years and $117 million. The Warriors could potentially trade him to not have a salary cap logjam. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are both on max deals for five years, and Draymond Green is on one for four years.

A first-time All-Star last season, Russell has proven to be a solid guard in a league filled with talent at the position. Last season, he averaged 21.1 points per game, a career-high at the time. He also shot 36.9% from the 3-point line and tallied 7.0 assists — both numbers remain career-highs.

This season his scoring has gone up slightly, as he’s scoring 22.0 points per game in 13 games. He has missed some time because of ankle and thumb injuries.

For Russell, it’s just going to be about continuing to show his skills. Whether the Warriors are interested in keeping him or not, his skill set could be useful in multiple places. He’s one of the best pick-and-roll guards in the league. According to NBA.com stats, Russell is scoring 8.8 points a game on plays where he’s the ball handler in the pick-and-roll.

Steph Curry releases new UA Curry 7 colorway with ode to ‘Dub Nation’

Stephen Curry’s newest signature shoe, the UA Curry 7 pays tribute to the Golden State Warriors fanbase, Dub Nation.

After suffering a broken hand, it’s been officially over one month since Stephen Curry suited up in a Golden State Warriors uniform, and to say it’s been rough wouldn’t do the two-time MVP justice. The Warriors are in the cellar of the 2019-20 NBA standings with a 5-19 record, while Curry is still a long way from returning to the Chase Center floor.

Although Curry isn’t launching three-pointers for Golden State, the All-Star’s signature sneaker is still rolling out new colorways— with the latest holding a special spot in Warriors’ fans hearts.

After releasing Under Armour Curry 7 colorways, “UNDRTD” and “Sour Patch Kids,” next up is “Dub Nation” — an ode to the passionate fanbase that surrounds the Golden State Warriors.

The sneakers’ moniker listed inside the Curry 7 locker in the Warriors store expresses the faith and loyalty Warriors fans had during the transition from Oracle Arena in Oakland to Chase Center in San Francisco.

“The stadium is new… but the fans, the energy, and the excitement is the same.”

Curry took to Twitter to state that he misses the fans and is patiently waiting to return to the floor, but in the meantime, the shoes are for the Dub Nation.

The Dub Nation Curry 7s have a blend of navy blue, with a unique dose of highlighter green. The shoe is currently available at the Warriors store in Chase Center, with a scheduled wide release on December 13, just in time for the holidays.

Report: Jacob Evans listed as available for game against Grizzlies

Warriors guard Jacob Evans will be available Monday night for the team’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

[jwplayer HLC65J95-z6KDnl0B]

With injuries hampering their season, the Golden State Warriors have had a carousel of guards available each game this season.

On Monday, the Warriors will have one of their young guards back. Per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, second-year player Jacob Evans is available for the Warriors’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Evans has missed the past 21 games with an adductor strain.

According to Slater, Warriors guard Damion Lee will be out with a broken hand injury. Lee has missed the past 13 games.

Evans has played three games this season, averaging a career-high 6.0 points and shooting a career-high 41.7% from the field. Before his injury, Evans was earning the most minutes of his career to date (14.3), and he had showed potential as a serviceable backup point guard.

In the season opener, Evans scored a career-high 14 points off the bench during the Warriors’ loss against the Los Angeles Clippers. He also made a career-high four 3-pointers.

Since Evans went out of the lineup, though, the Warriors’ guard rotation has been in flux. Steph Curry is out with a broken left hand injury. D’Angelo Russell has had an ankle sprain and thumb sprain; he’s played in 12 games.

With injuries being a major factor this season, rookie guards Ky Bowman and Jordan Poole have both started at least six games, and each of them have played 24.

This season, Evans is shooting 50% from the 3-point line on 2.7 attempts. Going forward, Evans, 22, has the potential to be a key player for Golden State because of his shooting touch.

[lawrence-related id=19308,19292,15191,14299]