NBA Finals: 5 takeaways from Game 3

2. Curry disengaged

Game 3 was one of the worst performances we’ve seen from Curry this season. His shooting was not catastrophic — 6-of-13 from the field, 3-of-9 on three-pointers — but Curry picked up several early fouls and generally looked disengaged from the game. His shooting numbers for the series are respectable but his turnover rate now stands at 26.9 percent.

The Cavaliers switched up their coverage on Curry in Game 3, abandoning the off-ball-switching that had deteriorated into a Three Stooges slapstick show. Kyrie Irving was not without brain farts but did a better job of sticking with Curry through Golden State’s maze of screens and pin-downs. J.R. Smith was also much more aware when the MVP was his defensive responsibility and there were precious few blatant defensive lapses for Curry to exploit.

But Curry certainly wasn’t suffocated by the Cavaliers defense and he his lack of aggressiveness and assertiveness off the ball seemed to make things much easier on Cleveland. The Warriors can win even when he’s not scoring but their offense still leans heavily on his gravity and the way he bends a defense simply be moving from one spot to another. If Curry isn’t sharp without the ball in his hands, open space begins to evaporate.

Next: 1. So much blowout