“The Logo”, “Mr. Laker”. Before these nicknames Jerry West was known as “Mr. Clutch”. It’s borderline blasphemous to compare anyone to the great West, who led countless dramatic comeback wins during his 14-year career, despite being only 6’2″.
Now in the Bay Area, we are seeing the birth of another relatively short guard, putting his team on his back game after game and carry them to victory. Stephen Curry, just might be on his way to becoming the new Mr. Clutch.
The legends of West are very well known. Often the smallest player on the court, he’d put a barrage of points on the board particularly in the end of games, shooting over taller defenders, double teams and from basically anywhere.
It’s the type of thing not expected from guards under 6’6″, but West did it. West once scored 42 points in Game 7 loss versus the Boston Celtics, almost singlehandedly carrying his Los Angeles Lakers to victory, that he not only earned the finals MVP (only player ever to win it as a loser), but Celtics great Bill Russell came over to tell him he was the best player on the court that day.
Stephen Curry has a ways to go before we can ever mention him in this breath, but the signs are here that he could be moving in this direction. Finally free of ball-dominant guards next to him (Monta Ellis and Jarrett Jack), Curry has been the undisputed man with the ball in his hands in the end of games.
He’s responding better than anyone could ever imagine. He and Klay Thompson’s 27-point comeback barrage versus the Toronto Raptors, his closing out of the Sacramento Kings, his near single-handed comeback v. Charlotte all paled in comparison to what he did Wednesday night against the Dallas Mavericks.
Curry scored or assisted each of the Warriors final 19 points, including a 4 point play to bring it with in 2, and the eventual game winner over the much larger Shawn Marion.
These are not the type of performances you expect from a guy so small, not particularly quick or strong.
Curry finds a way to do it with his pinpoint shooting, his incredible arsenal of moves off the dribble, and intelligence. Perhaps the most exciting part is statistically what he’s doing.
Stephen Curry is leading the NBA in 4th quarter scoring. Something you would expect from Kevin Durant or Carmelo Anthony.
And he’s doing it while shooting 52.2% from the field, 41% from three-point range. Curry is proving those who doubted his ability to close games without the quicker Ellis or Jack, and doing it much better than anyone could have guessed.
No one is saying he is the new Jerry West, but the more freedom he is being given down the stretch, the more he’s stepping up to the challenge and frequent miracle moments are being produced.
As time goes on, with this extended freedom, Stephen Curry will have his chance to staple himself as Mr. Clutch 2.0. For now, just sit back and marvel.
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