Stephen Curry Is Still Ridiculous
by Dan Favale
Have we run out of adjectives yet to describe Stephen Curry?
The toddler-faced assassin carved up the Miami Heat for 42 points on Wednesday night, giving him his NBA-leading ninth 40 burger of the season. He hit two big threes down the stretch, both of them from miles beyond the arc. His performance, which also included seven rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and six converted triples, toed that line between absurd and predictable.
It’s the same line Curry has been walking since last season. Watching him has, if nothing else, taught us to expect the unexpected. These efforts have in many ways become mundane, because they’re so freaking common. Curry is just the second point guard over the last three decades to go for 40/7/72, joining Jason Kidd, and we can talk about his entire body of work from Thursday night like it’s no big deal—as if it’s just Steph being Steph.
At the same time, it is a big deal. After resetting and reinventing his own bar on countless occasions, Curry still, somehow, never ceases to amaze—never fails to deliver that next expectations-shattering play, shot or performance in a long line of expectation-shattering plays, shots and performances.
Night of the long distance bombs part I
https://vine.co/v/i6AXOxHLZtz
(Vine via LoveShaq)
The Boogie Takeover
by Ryne Prinz
In the first half of the Kings game against the Spurs on Wednesday night, DeMarcus Cousins struggled mightily. Cousins shot miserably from the field, competing his first field goal about two minutes into the third quarter.
But that’s when everything changed.
Boogie went on a rampage against one of the elite contenders in the league, getting bucket after bucket after bucket. It started with a monstrous, driving dunk and the foul on Tim Duncan to bring the Kings within three. Just shortly after, DeMarcus jammed again, this time off a dime from Rajon Rondo. Cousins stepped out and hit from deep a few possessions later. Another couple of times down the court passed, and Boogie was dunking again and once again several later. With about four minutes to go in the period, Boogie knocked down a jumper put Sacramento down a single point. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and Cousins was subbed out, leading to a run to put the Spurs up by eight. They never looked back and won handily.
DeMarcus Cousins still managed to pulverize a historically great defense and keep the Kings (yes, the Kings) within range to challenge San Antonio. Cousins is polarizing, mostly due to his very outward expression of frustration and emotion when things aren’t necessarily going his way. It’s a double-edged sword that often times takes the Kings and himself out of games but also provides his drive to completely dominate basketball games.
Night of the long distance bombs part II
(Vine via Bleacher Report)
The Miami Heat are finding themselves
by Matt Cianfrone
For most of the season the Miami Heat have been good but not great, which seemed disappointing for a team with as much talent as the Heat possess. Goran Dragic and Dwyane Wade have struggled to play together, Hassan Whiteside’s fit has been a question and the Miami bench has struggled leading to the Heat being down in the middle of the Eastern Conference instead of towards the top.
After Wednesday night though, it isn’t hard to see the Heat in a new light as they continued their post All-Star break resurgence with a great effort against the Golden State Warriors. Even despite the loss, Miami has seemed to find themselves, even without their best player as Chris Bosh remains sidelined, perhaps for the rest of the season.
It started with Wade, who turned back the clock to 2007 with a vast array of attacks, mid-range jumpers and tough finishes inside. Dragic added his own offense by just putting his head down and getting towards the rim and Whiteside added his brand of paint domination with 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Most importantly, Miami got help from other guys. Josh McRoberts did his weird, awkward, fun thing to score just seven points but make a positive difference, especially in the second half Heat run. Rookie Josh Richardson, playing only because of injuries to Beno Udrih and Tyler Johnson, added 15 points and tough defense and fellow rookie Justice Winslow remained solid.
It was as encouraging a loss as a team can have and with the Eastern Conference still fairly wide open the Heat couldn’t help but be kind of happy after the game. It was a message that needs to be taken seriously. Here come the Miami Heat.
Night of the long distance bombs part III
(Vine via Mike and Mike)
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