Celtics scramble to stop Stephen Curry as Game 5 of NBA finals looms

Because the Boston Celtics seek for solutions in an effort to cease Stephen Curry within the NBA finals, they know even their greatest protection received’t at all times be ok.

“Steph Curry is fairly good, for those who guys haven’t seen. He can shoot the ball unbelievably,” Boston guard Jaylen Brown mentioned on Sunday. “Even watching it, enjoying in opposition to it and even within the finals, I really feel like he’s taking it up a notch slightly bit. He had a hell of a efficiency in Recreation 4, and now we have to answer that.”

Whether or not the Celtics can do a greater job containing the two-time MVP shall be a serious key because the best-of-seven sequence resumes at Chase Middle on Monday evening with the groups tied 2-2.

Celtics coach Ime Udoka is looking for his crew to combine issues up and be extra bodily on the heels of Curry’s 43-point masterpiece within the Warriors’ 107-97 victory Friday in Boston.

Udoka will enable his guards some leeway in deciding precisely the place to start pressuring Golden State’s famous person – usually beginning properly past the three-point arc – with the massive males staying on the prepared to help.

Curry went 14 for 26 with seven three-pointers and likewise grabbed 10 rebounds in Recreation 4. As soon as he finds a rhythm, he can hit from wherever, even with a defender’s hand in his face. However Udoka realizes how the profession three-point chief can shortly grow to be simply as harmful a playmaker, too.

“Clearly, the vary extends the ground some. A few of the pictures that he’s hitting are solely pictures that he can hit and have been extremely contested,” Udoka mentioned. “He’s hit a couple of of these.”

The 34-year-old Curry recorded the second-best scoring efficiency of his profession on the finals stage – second solely to the 47 factors he put up in Recreation 3 of 2019 in opposition to eventual champion Toronto – and joined Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the one gamers age 34 or older with at the very least 40 factors in a finals recreation.

So, was watching the movie session from Friday’s recreation nearly as enjoyable for Curry as enjoying?

“Whether or not you play properly individually or not, you at all times know what occurs on the finish. It’s like watching the tip of a film. It’s at all times good to know that the film seems nice on the finish,” he mentioned.

“However I feel it’s extra so simply the stability of watching what labored and making an attempt to know these patterns so to repeat that for the following recreation. Perhaps anticipate some changes which may occur. Attempt to sluggish it down and attempt to be one step forward of that. Within the meantime, additionally watching loads of completely different reactions within the crowd and on the bench and stuff like that, too. That’s at all times some good leisure.”

Damage report

Celtics middle Robert Williams III remains to be coping with soreness in his troublesome left knee. He had surgical procedure in March to restore torn cartilage earlier than returning for Recreation 3 of the primary spherical in opposition to Brooklyn. The Celtics proceed to watch him, although Udoka mentioned the 6ft 9in huge man was higher on Sunday.

Boston didn’t discover a particular second on movie that confirmed when Williams may need reaggravated the tender knee.

“Doing higher, the time off, the remainder, equaled with right now and tomorrow, optimistic he’ll be good to go,” Udoka mentioned. “However we’ll take a look at it earlier than the sport as common.”

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