Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals featured a few defining moments in the fourth quarter of the Cavaliers’ triumphant win in Oakland to take down the Warriors and lift the Larry O’Brien trophy for the first time. There was LeBron James’ chase down block on Andre Iguodala, Steph Curry’s wayward behind-the-back pass that skipped out of bounds, and Kyrie Irving’s three-pointer over Curry that proved to be the dagger.
That shot and the block have become iconic in Cleveland, representative of the best plays on both ends of the floor by the Cavs’ two top stars. While it’s been a year of remembering those plays with jubilation in Cleveland, it’s been the opposite in Oakland. That series loss has lingered over the Warriors for almost a full year now with those plays serving as reminders of their failure every time they are replayed. As the Warriors prepare for their rematch with the Cavs and a chance at redemption, they haven’t forgotten those huge moments.
Steph Curry spoke with ESPN’s Chris Haynes about two of those moments — Kyrie’s shot and Steph’s behind-the-back turnover — just days ahead of this year’s NBA Finals and Curry had interesting thoughts on both. With regards to the Irving three-pointer, Steph, to this day, can only tip his cap to Uncle Drew and insists that there is nothing he would change about how he defended that play.
“You could tell that’s a shot he’s worked on,” Curry said. “I was right there. Tried not to foul. I stayed in front and contested. He just made an amazing shot. You have to give him credit. There’s nothing I’d do differently on that play.”
While Irving’s shot was simply a moment of unstoppable brilliance, Curry’s behind the back pass has become more of a teaching moment for the two-time MVP.
“Yeah, I still think about that [turnover],” Curry told ESPN. “[But] in thinking about that game, it’s funny because I know the concept of making the right play, making a simple play, understanding that there are deciding moments in games and the difference between winning a championship or not could be one of those plays.”
Curry and the Warriors haven’t had to really worry about those moments very often in these playoffs during their perfect 12-0 run to the Finals, but against the Cavs you’d figure that at least a few games will come down to crucial closing stretches. In those moments we’ll find out if Curry and company can take their own advice and make the simple play, or if the errors of the past will haunt them again.
