HOUSTON No I guess the stage isn't too big the pressure isn't too oppressive and the Western Conference finals aren't too much for Stephen Curry.
It's the other way around As the games have gotten bigger and the media attention has mushroomed Curry has found a calm casual brilliance in this moment of all moments.
All eyes are on him the Warriors franchise is staked to his shoulders there is a championship on the line and Curry has never been better ... or more at peace.
It feels normal really Curry said from the middle of the media maelstrom before the Warriors' Sunday practice at Rice University.
I feel comfortable. I feel ready for the moment and able to kind of just block out the extracurricular stuff that could distract you from the focus on the court.
Pretty content with where we are and just hungry to keep getting better and keep doing what we're doing.
Curry never raised his voice in his 12 minute media session. He smiled a few times. He made eye contact with just about every questioner he talked about team goals and as always veered sharply away from self congratulation.
But also in the wake of his nearly immaculate 40 point performance to lead the Warriors to a blowout victory in Game 3 and a 3 0 series lead over Houston Curry was unquestionably in command of all things.
Quiet but a killer too. Just another teammate but also a man walking among history.
The beauty of Steph is he is who he is coach Steve Kerr said. He's reserved but competitive. He's modest but arrogant.
It's an incredible combination of confidence and humility and the way it manifests itself in the game ... it's really fun to watch. Let's just roll through what the NBA MVP has done in the Warriors' last six games all victories all with the stakes increasing each day.
Since Curry went 2 for 11 and then 2 for 10 from 3 point distance in the Warriors' losses to Memphis in Games 2 and 3 of that second round series Curry has made 36 of 66 3 point attempts (54.5 percent and an average of 6 makes a game).
Overall he is averaging 29.9 points in the playoffs he averaged 31.7 points in the last six games and 35.7 in the three games of the Western Conference finals in which he is shooting 61.3 percent.
The crescendo Game 3 on Saturday when Curry started the game as a distributor and scored only three points in the first quarter then erupted for 37 more points in the final three periods on a series of floaters drives spot ups and one off balance 3 point flick off a loose ball from the left corner.
Add that to his 62 footer at the third quarter buzzer in Memphis and his 3 pointer to send Game 3 vs. New Orleans into overtime ... and so many others ... Basically Curry takes shots that nobody should ever take except that he makes almost all of them.
It's situational arrogance it's humble greatness it's a quieter version of what Michael Jordan Larry Bird and Magic Johnson all had and Curry has it now.
He was definitely in one of those modes where I was like 'All right I'm going to try to screen but I'm also just trying to get out of his way ' forward Draymond Green said of Saturday's Curry performance.
So what's it like to be on the floor while Curry goes supernova
When you think you've seen it all he comes with a little bit more Green said. He's making history and it's fun to be a part of that. Because when you see his highlights my kids will see me.
Curry was very good at Davidson and then as an NBA rookie in 2009 2010 he was better two seasons ago when the Warriors first broke through into the playoffs he was the clear MVP by midway through this season and now ... he's notably remarkably stunningly better than he was just in March.
Or even seven games ago.
Now that it seems so obvious that he was meant to do this I asked Curry if he was always sure he could thrive and dominate in the biggest games.
You just want the opportunity Curry said.
As this all has unfolded Curry's teammates have been his comrades beneficiaries helpers and witnesses.
They experience his grace and humor off the court they laugh and shake their heads at his audacity in the games.
I'm not in his mind but I see how he acts on a daily basis towards us said forward David Lee who has been Curry's teammate the longest since Lee's arrival in 2010.
He's the same guy he was to me four years ago when we were winning 30 games and he had a hurt ankle.
I think he's just a very grounded guy and he's made for situations like this. Hopefully he'll continue to do what he's done and it'll lead us to a championship.
If the next five or six games are anything like the last six Curry will do exactly that and if you're watching his track record it seems almost certain that it actually will only get better.
Read Tim Kawakami's Talking Points blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami.
Contact him at tkawakami mercurynews.com or 408 920 5442. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/timkawakami.
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