The Shot
Defensive Player of the Year was announced the morning of Game 3. Much to the surprise of the Warriors, Draymond Green was the runner up. Kawhi Leonard won the award despite missing 18 games and struggling near the beginning of the season.
Already battling with an ankle injury and disappointment, Green struggled against phenom Anthony Davis to start the game. The Warriors were down big. The first three quarters were unexpected domination by the New Orleans Pelicans.
But as we all know, if any team can come down from a large deficit, it’s the Warriors.
Golden State was down 20 points to start the fourth quarter. The atmosphere in New Orleans was hectic; they were hungry to see the first playoff win by their team in a few years. They were seconds away from having it.
The Warriors narrowed the lead down to just three. Common sense says that Monty Williams and the Pelicans would foul on the final possession so that way Steph Curry or Klay Thompson don’t get a chance at shooting from beyond the arc.
Showing inexperience, the Pelicans did not foul.
With around eight seconds left on the clock, Curry hoisted up a fadeaway jumper that clanked off the front of the rim. Mo Speights was at the right place at the right time and promptly grabbed the offensive rebound and found the best three-point shooter in the world in the corner.
Curry made the shot over the outstretched arms of Tyreke Evans and Anthony Davis, with his eyes closed and ended up landing on the floor. No foul was called.
If you’re a believer of “everything happens for a reason” this final scenario could give you some leverage in debates. Curry missed the first shot, but had it gone in, the Warriors would have been down by one because his foot was on the line. His original shot was a deep two-pointer.
The corner three-pointer was dazzling and the Warriors took the game into overtime after a missed halfcourt shot by Evans. Golden State stole Game 3, leaving New Orleans in disarray.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgiz6dWICO8
Verdict
Baron Davis’ dunk was phenomenal, exciting, and will never be forgotten. He was the face of the Warriors success for the younger generation of fans. Most of them never witnessed championships or hardly saw Run TMC. Davis holds a special place in the hearts of Dub Nation and the dunk is historic.
The shot was a better moment for the Warriors, though. They came back from a 20-point deficit…in one quarter. Curry made a three-point jumper over Anthony Davis as if no one was there and he is the best shot blocker in the league. While Baron Davis’ dunk was impressive, it didn’t help the Warriors gain momentum in the series and they ended up losing in five games.
Meanwhile, the 2015 Warriors swept the Pelicans and killed any confidence the young team developed. The fact that Curry was fouled on the play and could have ended with a free throw and a four-point play if the official made the call is beyond incredible.
From the candid celebration of Dell and Seth Curry in the crowd, to the overtime dominance, to just the comeback in general, the build-up for the shot was sensational and the moment was nothing short of that.
Steph Curry’s shot barely edges out Baron Davis’ dunk for the implications of the game. Because of it, the Warriors get at least a week long rest and await their next opponent. The 2007 Warriors didn’t have a legitimate chance of winning it all, but a special ending is being called for the 2015 Warriors, led by their fearless leader.