Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets were red-hot down the stretch during the regular season, winning 23 of their final 26 games en route to the third seed in the NBA Western Conference Playoffs.
Then they ran into the sixth-seeded Golden State Warriors.
More accurately, they ran into Stephen Curry.
The Warriors’ 25-year-old point guard has showed no signs of nervousness in the first four playoff games of his career, drilling 18 three-pointers, which is more than any other player in NBA history through his first four postseason games.
So what can the Nuggets do to stop him?
Is there even any hope?
Well, to be quite honest, there isn’t much, given that the Nuggets are a fast break, run-and-gun team that have been getting beat at their own game. While they were able to pull out Game 1 at home, Golden State has now won three games in a row thanks to 30 points per game from Curry over those three contests.
Denver has to realize that Curry simply cannot be stopped. With one of the prettiest jump shots the world has ever seen and a release that’s quicker than a hiccup, the Charlotte, NC native is quickly making a name for himself and, by proxy, making fools out of everyone who didn’t vote him into the All-Star Game.
That doesn’t mean that you give up. It simply means that just like with a LeBron James or a Kobe Bryant, you have to acknowledge the supreme talent of your opponent. You may not be able to stop him, but you can try to shut down his teammates.
The problem is, Curry’s teammates aren’t too shabby either.
With that said, I think the Nuggets should be favored in tonight’s Game 5, but it’s the last game in which I would favor them. Because even if they do win, they’re still looking at a Game 6 in Oakland in front of one of the most raucous crowds in the league.
Maybe they should try poking Curry in the eye a few more times.
Nah, he’d probably still drop 30 on them in an eye patch.
Josh McKinney is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @SuperJMac32, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
