The Chef is back

It was the 2015-2016 NBA season and this guy was so very good that as a long-time Laker fan, it was to the point of irritation.  Add to the fact that the LA Lakers had their franchise-worst record of 17-65, including a 10-game losing streak.   Let’s just be clear.  I’m no hater and I always acknowledge the prowess of any player or team, supporter or not.

During that season, their 70th as a franchise in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors went hot right away and burned their first 24 opponents, went on to eclipse the 70-win mark and recorded the best-ever regular season win-loss record of 73-9.  It would have been doubly sweet for them had they won the title, but the basketball gods decided that GSW’s number 30 had received enough blessings for the season that they favored the other guy wearing 23 then playing for Cleveland.

Yes, Stephen Curry for that time was so good it was beyond comprehension.  He won the scoring title with a 30.1ppg average, did a league-record 402 three-pointers made, had the best free-throw percentage and led the NBA in steals.  For the second straight year, Curry was named league MVP, the first uncontested choice in NBA history.

For the 2015-2016 campaign, Curry converted 50.4% of his field goal attempts enroute to 30.1 points per game.  He was 90.8% successful of his free throws and made 45.4% of his three-point shot attempts.

Fast forward to this Covid-infested season.  The NBA’s highest player at $43 million a year is at it again and nearing the half of the season, Curry is doing an encore performance of that glorious 6 seasons past.  In 30 games, he averaged 29.9 points, 5.4 reboounds and 6.2 assists.  His efficiency now is comparable to that season with a 48.6 FG% and a 42.3% accuracy from beyond the arc.  His free throw shooting had become accurate with 93.5% finding the bottom of the net.

Accurately launching those shots sometimes just a few steps from halfcourt and anywhere else is kind of ridiculous for players not in Curry’s caliber.  Because he’s such a dead shot, he attracts more coverage from opposing players and often, it opens up teammates for uncontested shots. 

Currently, the Warriors are 8th in the Western Conference and things are looking good in the Bay Area. Chef Curry is back and he’s doing some hot cooking.