Steph needed KD to lift him past LeBron… but the Celtics literally handed him these two trophies: Skip Bayless
Steph Curry led the Golden State Warriors to their fourth championship in eight years and finally bagged the Finals MVP award. “Chef Curry” has now won championships with and without Kevin Durant, whilst tying LeBron James’ title haul.
Despite Curry’s incredible accomplishments over the past few years, there are critics who still find something to throw at the greatest shooter in NBA history. Skip Bayless, who has been very vocal in his criticism of the eight-time All-Star, was unwilling to back down.
The Fox Sports analyst just couldn’t help but throw shade at what the 33-year-old point guard and the Golden State Warriors have achieved:
“Steph needed KD to lift him past LeBron… but the Celtics literally handed him these two trophies,” Bayless tweeted.
Steph Curry and the Warriors beat LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2015 NBA Finals without Kevin Durant. The Cavs, however, didn’t have Kevin Love for the entire series and only had Kyrie Irving in Game 1. Without his sidekicks, “King James” didn’t have enough ammunition to beat the Warriors.
The following year, LeBron James finally had his two superstar teammates and beat the 73-9 Warriors in an upset for the ages. James guided the Cavaliers to the title after trailing by 3-1 in the 2016 championship series. The stunning upset was a big part of the Warriors’ recruitment campaign to get Kevin Durant.
With Durant in the mix, the Cleveland Cavaliers just didn’t have enough firepower to hold off Steph Curry and the Warriors over the next two seasons.
Meanwhile, this season, the Boston Celtics played like they were the best team in the NBA heading into the title round. They were, however, brought down to earth by against Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green’s Warriors. Boston shot themselves in the foot on multiple occasions with careless turnovers and inexperience.
That being said, the Warriors richly deserve what they have accomplished. They were almost 3-1 down in the series, but Curry simply refused to let that happen with an iconic Game 4 performance (43 points and seven 3s).
Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors were unstoppable in Game 6
The Boston Celtics threw everything they had in the first nine minutes of the first quarter but couldn’t sustain it. Golden State’s crippling 21-0 run with just a little over two minutes left in the game’s first 12 minutes was just too much to overcome.
Klay Thompson didn’t put on a vintage Game 6 performance but made timely contributions on both ends of the floor. His presence alone kept Boston’s perimeter defense on their toes, giving Steph Curry a little more room to operate.
Draymond Green followed up his Game 5 performance with his best game of the season. After a horrendous start to the NBA Finals, the Warriors’ charismatic leader came through when the team needed him the most.
Steph Curry, the Celtics’ primary focus the entire series, bounced back from an atrocious 0-9 display from long range in Game 5. He made 6 of 11 shots from beyond the arc and finished with a game-high 34 points.
Just like their past championships, Golden State’s mantra of “Strength in Numbers” carried them yet again to another NBA title.