The Golden State Warriors faced another frustrating night on Monday, falling to the Indiana Pacers 111-105. While the spotlight often falls on the younger players and their ability to support Stephen Curry, this time, the star player was at the center of the conversation for his uncharacteristically passive play.
Curry struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with only 10 points on 2-for-13 shooting, his second rough game in three outings. He attempted just four shots in the first half and couldn’t flip the switch in the fourth quarter when his team needed him most. After the game, Curry was candid about his performance, taking responsibility for the lackluster outing.
I’ve got to play better, and I will. But I think as a whole, we’ve just got to maintain our confidence in what we’re doing, not have those little spurts where we give a team life
Stephen Curry
Steph Curry: “I got to play better and I will.” pic.twitter.com/8476SCNGGx
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) December 24, 2024
Curry’s struggles were part of a broader issue with the Warriors’ offense on Monday. While he recognized the need for better decision-making and confidence in execution from himself, the game showed off why the Dubs need a secondary scorer and playmaker on their team.
In his role as the team’s primary scorer and playmaker, Curry’s age has started to show its effects, making it difficult to find the same rhythm and consistent burst as he would early in his career. Although the Warriors hoped the addition of Dennis Schroder would help tackle some of their issues, the move hasn’t paid dividends so far. Schroder ended the game with just 9 points on 3-9 shooting.
Stephen Curry discusses defensive coverages affecting his scoring
Stephen Curry‘s performance was hampered by Indiana’s relentless defensive strategy. Pacers rookie Andrew Nembhard spent much of the game shadowing Curry, limiting his opportunities. Additionally, the Pacers frequently blitzed him off screens, forcing him into a facilitating role rather than his usual scoring dominance. He discussed these tactics in his postgame presser.
Being defended a certain way, but it’s nothing I haven’t seen before. You’ve got to understand when to pick and choose your spots based on the attention you get, get the ball moving, try to find a rhythm a little earlier. That might be a little bit of an adjustment, but it’s something I’ve been through and always try to find a way to bounce back.
Stephen Curry
The Pacers executed their game plan to perfection, with Myles Turner leading the charge. Turner scored 23 points, including a dagger three-pointer late in the fourth quarter that sealed the win. Indiana’s ability to disrupt Curry and force others to step up proved decisive. In the meantime, Dubs HC Steve Kerr remained unconcerned about Curry’s off night.
This marked the second time in three games that Curry struggled offensively. Two games earlier, he had a rare two-point performance against Memphis, going 0-for-7 from the field. While Kerr and the Warriors remain confident in their leader’s ability to bounce back, the team must address its broader issues, as they’ve been looking to do with their aggressive ‘big game hunting’ approach.
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