The Warriors swept their way to a fifth straight NBA Finals. The best series of Stephen Curry’s career got them there.
PORTLAND, Ore. — There is no award for most valuable player of the conference finals. If there were there’s a good chance Draymond Green would’ve won it for his play for the Golden State Warriors in their sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers.
His defense was just sensational. His playmaking was at the highest levels he’s maybe ever shown, nearly averaging a triple double at 16.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists. He ran the floor like a point guard. And he hit the game-winning shot in overtime of Game 4, a clutch 3-pointer in the 119-117 win that clinched the Western Conference finals.
Players and coaches on both sides, plus the large media contingent, have praised Green for days. After calling him a « wrecking ball » after an awesome Game 3, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was asked to come up with an even better metaphor for Green the next day. He apologized that he couldn’t.
But in all fairness, Green wasn’t the best player in the series.
This sweep was a genuine masterpiece for Stephen Curry. Perhaps the stakes weren’t high enough nor the opponent severe enough to call it the best playoff series of his career for it to qualify — actually, forget that, it was the best series of his career.
Curry has never dominated a series like he did over these past four games, doing so in a time of need with Kevin Durant out and Andre Iguodala hobbled and then sidelined himself.
