"We have a competitive spirit that's unmatched"- Steph Curry says Warriors have been the team to beat for last decade after comeback against Pelicans
Steph Curry was oozing confidence after leading the Golden State Warriors to a 20-point 120-109 comeback win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. Curry reflected on the Warriors' success over the last decade, claiming the defending champions are unmatched when it comes to being competitive in big games.
Here's what he said during his walk-out interview on NBCS:
"We know what time of the season it is. We've faced a lot of adversity all year, and even in this first half, it was like, nothing going your way, had some self-inflicted wounds."
He added:
"The one thing that we have, you know, Draymond's fire in the first half is the ultimate testament and visual to what it is that we have a competitive spirit that's unmatched."
Steph Curry further said:
"It's been that way for a decade, and for us to tap into that.. That belief and that killer instinct, three guys standing on this court, myself, Draymond and Klay, we've done it."
"We have a competitive spirit that's unmatched. And it's been that way for a decade."
- Steph on the Warriors' fight in big games https://t.co/1eWKF5vMwi
The Warriors and Pelicans had a brutally physical first half, which saw Draymond Green pick up a technical after his altercation with Brandon Ingram and other Pelicans players. New Orleans tried to rattle Golden State after taking a 20-point advantage in the first half, making Steph Curry and Co. feel the heat.
Draymond and Ingram had to be separated after hard foul 😳 https://t.co/LXpaj8hQSL
However, the Warriors came back strong in the second half and took care of business. Steph Curry scored 22 of his 39 points in the final 24 minutes. He made 56.0% shots and went 8-of-15 from deep while also tallying eight rebounds, eight assists, and three steals.
Meanwhile, Jordan Poole had 21 off the bench on 53.3% shooting. Klay Thompson scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half, making four threes. Draymond Green finished with eight points and 13 assists (nine in the second half). The Warriors committed 14 turnovers in the first half and only four in the second half.
STEPH IS NOT FROM THIS PLANET https://t.co/zou7BY1ol2
The defending champions also cleaned up the boards, outrebounding the Pelicans 24-16 in the final 24 minutes and gaining a 11-3 advantage on the offensive glass.
Steph Curry and the Warriors need to tap into their championship-caliber play in the final stretch
The Golden State Warriors have had a mediocre season by their standards. They were expected to be a top-four team by a clear margin at this stage, but that's far from being the case. Golden State is currently 40-37, placed sixth in the Western Conference standings.
They are only 0.5 games clear of the seventh seed. The margin for error is less for the Dubs as they prepare to play their final five games. There is a legitimate possibility they might fall into the play-in bracket or achieve a homecourt seeding.
The Warriors are a game behind the fourth-placed Phoenix Suns (40-35). Steph Curry and Co. need at least four wins in their next five games to secure a top-six finish. It will be an uphill task as they face top seeds like the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings on the road and an unpredictable OKC Thunder team at home during this stretch.
The Warriors will have to tap into their championship-caliber potential to get the best possible outcome in this final stretch, as it could eventually have implications for their playoff run.