The Golden State Warriors entered Monday night's clash against the Sacramento Kings losers of their past five games, and they seemed to be in danger of falling for the sixth straight time after the Kings led by 12 at the halftime intermission. Alas, Stephen Curry had other ideas, scoring 47 points to carry the Warriors to a much-needed victory.
Curry sensed that his team needed a spark, and apart from his stellar shooting performance (he went off, shooting an insane 17-24 from the field to go along with seven triples), he also lit a fire underneath his team after he was called for a technical foul for screaming at the officials after he crashed to the ground on a layup make.
And perhaps, as Stephen Curry himself mused, his first technical of the season could prove to be the catalyst that snaps the Warriors out of their funk.
“[I was frustrated about] the call, but definitely understanding the sense of urgency of just trying to win a basketball game. […] I see a lot of jokes about me kicking a chair a couple years ago and us going on a run after that. Maybe that’ll be this years version of that,” Curry told reporters, via The Athletic's Anthony Slater.
Article Continues BelowSteph Curry on his technical tonight: “I see a lot of jokes about me kicking a chair a couple years ago and us going on a run after that. Maybe that’ll be this years version of that.” pic.twitter.com/zAOPLtRDbe
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 8, 2022
Warriors fans will never forget the time during the 2021-22 season when Curry kicked a chair during the third quarter of a January game against the rebuilding Houston Rockets. With the Warriors down by six in the middle of the third quarter, Curry took out his frustrations on the inanimate object, and the Dubs came alive shortly thereafter. At the end of that game, the 2022 NBA Finals MVP sank his first game-winning buzzer beater as a professional to give the Warriors a 105-103 victory.
Surely enough, the Warriors, who entered that game against the Rockets with a 3-7 record in their past ten games, proceeded to win nine straight games after Stephen Curry hit the chair. Maybe Curry needs to blow off steam more often to get the Warriors to play at their best more consistently.
At the end of the day, the supporting cast has to step up, especially Jordan Poole, who hasn't played up to par yet despite signing a $140 million extension in the offseason. As elite as Curry is, it's unreasonable to expect the four-time NBA champion to do it by his lonesome every night, but then again, if there's anyone who's earned the benefit of the doubt, it's the greatest shooter of all time.