In prior postseasons, Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson would combine for a bazillion points from threeeeeeeeeeeeeee — BANG! BANG! — to drive opponents into abject hopelessness on the Golden State Warriors’ path to victory. During the Western Conference Finals, however, a new partnership emerged for Curry.
With the sharpshooter demoralizing the Portland Trail Blazers on offense and forward Draymond Green embarrassing them on defense, the Green Curry Combo was formed. In Golden State’s 119-117 Game 4 victory for the Western Conference crown, Curry and Green stayed the course, recording a combined 27 rebounds and a combined 22 assists on their way to respective triple-doubles.
In Game 4, Curry led the way for the Warriors in scoring, which became status quo for the series.
Curry vs. Portland in Western Conference Finals
- Game 4: 37 points
- Game 3: 36 points
- Game 2: 37 points
- Game 1: 36 points
In Monday night’s Game 4, Curry’s scoring production came on 44 percent shooting from the field, 43.8 percent shooting from three-point range and 88.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line. His 13 rebounds (four on the offensive end) and 11 assists made it a triple-double.
Green, meanwhile, remained a very, very mean rebounding, blocking and stealing machine. In Game 4, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year (2015, 2017) recorded his triple-double with 14 rebounds (all on the defensive end), 11 assists and 18 points. Green also rejected two Blazers’ shot attempts and stole the ball three times.
This flushing of the box score was the norm for Green in this series, with emphasis on what he does best — protect, defend. The result? Back-to-back triple doubles in Games 3 and 4 and back-to-back double-doubles in Games 1 and 2.
Green vs. Portland in the Western Conference Finals
- Game 4: 18 points,14 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 blocks, 3 steals
- Game 3: 20 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, 1 block, 4 steals
- Game 2: 16 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, 0 steals
- Game 1: 12 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals
Green battled injuries during the season and, like the rest of the team, coasted on mediocre performances during stretches of the regular season.
He also was voted Most Overrated by his NBA colleagues, according to The Athletic’s NBA Player Poll and, like the rest of the Warriors, Green was snubbed in the voting for season awards.
It is hard to imagine these factors not serving as kindling for Green’s explosion and fodder for locker room chuckles given that just one player and one coach up for season awards are left standing this deep into the playoffs.
Making the season-awards snub even sweeter?
Curry and Green made history in the Warriors’ Game 4: Two players on the same team recording triple-doubles in a single postseason game is new — what those who kick it old-school call history.
A third factor in Golden State’s ability to complete the 4-0 series sweep was the bench. Previously seeming ineffective if not haphazard, injuries to DeMarcus Cousins (quadriceps tear), Kevin Durant (calf strain) and Andre Iguodala (calf tightness) forced others to step up. And no one in the second unit was more consistent or more dependable in the conference finals than Kevon Looney, on both sides of the ball.
After averaging 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in the regular season, Looney stepped up impressively when his number was called:
Looney vs. Portland in Western Conference Finals
- Game 4: 12 points, 14 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal
- Game 3: 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block, 0 steals
- Game 2: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal
- Game 1: 6 points, 2 rebounds,1 block, 3 steals
Even more impactful about Looney’s Western Conference Finals production is his efficiency: 77.9 percent field goal percentage (including a perfect 6-of-6 in Game 2). He made 60 percent of his shots in Game 1, 80 percent in Game 3 and 71.4 percent in Game 4.
No matter what happens from here, Looney has made his case for a long-term, lucrative contract with the Warriors. At 23 years old, it is hard to imagine him as anything other than the center for the future for this team.
The Warriors have 10 days of rest and rehabilitation before the 2019 NBA Finals tip off on Thursday, May 30, versus the Eastern Conference Finals winner: Milwaukee Bucks or Toronto Raptors.
Golden State’s chances of winning its third-straight title and fourth in five years increases tremendously if Cousins and Durant are in the lineup. Looney has made the most of his increased minutes and veteran forward Iguodala, who started his entire career with the Philadelphia 76ers and during his first season with Golden State, has thrived with the starters.
If the Warriors can get healthy so that Iguodala can rejoin Looney off the bench, it is hard to imagine either the Bucks or Raptors beating them. Not just for the NBA Finals trophy, but in any individual game along the way.
