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What’s good, family. It’s Sykes, once again, back again to usher you into tonight’s playoff action. But first, a word on Steph Curry.
These NBA Finals have been quite a treat so far with tons of twists and turns. It’s been a nice little tug of war. The Celtics have already stolen a game on the road behind some brilliant shooting. But the Warriors have really blitzed them in every third quarter we’ve seen so far.
Most of that has been done behind the brilliance of Stephen Curry.
Curry through two games so far is averaging 31.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting a cool 46% from the floor and 46% from 3-point range. That’s all while taking 13 3-pointers per game, which is insane.
He’s on pace to be one of 3 players in league history to average 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists while having a 55% true shooting mark — the other two are LeBron James and Michael Jordan.
No matter what way you cut it, this dude’s performance so far has been incredible. He’s the straw stirring everyone’s drink on the Warriors. Yet, all anyone has talked about over the last few days has been the officiating.
Has Draymond Green gotten away with too much? Should he have been ejected? What will the whistle be like in Game 3?
All that stuff is well and good. But, honestly, the Celtics have much bigger problems on their hands. They need to figure out who can, at least, bother Steph Curry. Because right now? It doesn’t look like they have anybody.
The Tip-Off
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
My colleague Prince Grimes has been on fire chatting with NBA legends, y’all. First, it’s Gary Payton. Now? Tony Parker.
Prince chatted it up with the Spurs legend about a number of things including playing with the two coaches currently in the NBA Finals, passing the torch to the Warriors and being the young guy at 21 years old in the Finals himself. There was lots of good in the conversation.
But the best part? It was this quote on people overlooking the Spurs’ dynasty.
“To a certain extent. But in the world of basketball, everybody knows we had an unbelievable run, maybe one of the best runs in 20 years in the NBA, if you look at playoffs and all that kind of stuff and all the success we had over the years. I understand that we talk about the Bulls, Lakers, Celtics, Warriors — it doesn’t bother me because when I go home, I have my four rings too. So, I will put them against anybody.”
Now that’s what I call self-confidence.
One to Watch
(All odds via Tipico.)
Celtics (-3.5, -160) vs. Warriors (+130), O/U 212.5, 9 PM ET
This is such a tough one to pick. Game 3 is so pivotal — especially when homecourt has already shifted in the road team’s favor for the series.
The Celtics haven’t been the steadiest at home in the playoffs, though. They’re 5-4 and the Warriors are looking to steal one in TD Garden to get homecourt back. I think we’ll finally get a close one tonight. Give me Warriors +3.5.
Who’s in and out?
— Robert Williams (knee) is questionable for Game 3 against the Warriors
— Gary Payton II (elbow) is questionable for Game 3 against the Celtics
— Otto Porter Jr. (foot) is questionable for Game 3 against the Celtics
— Andre Iguodala (knee) is questionable for Game 3 against the Celtics
Shootaround
— The Phoenix Suns’ COVID-19 outbreak probably doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it is.
— Here’s every NBA star seen in Adam Sandler’s Hustle. Thanks, Bryan.
— Draymond Green had the best reaction to Cedric Maxwell saying he’d knock him out.
— Klay Thompson’s shooting slump might be a little more than a slump.
That’s a wrap, y’all. Enjoy the hoops tonight!
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