With 34.3 points per game, Curry is the leading point scorer by a mile
NBA Finals are getting into the exciting phase as the series is level 2-2 and is suddenly a best of three competition now. With a lot of things yet to be decided, one outcome is certain for the Pundits which is the MVP of the finals.
Steph Curry, the Warriors’ standout point guard, had one of the best games of his famous career in Game 4, scoring 43 points in TD Garden to even the series against the Celtics. Even if the Celtics win the Larry O’Brien Trophy, Curry’s performance on Friday has earned him the title of Finals MVP, according to many NBA observers.
Curry’s Performance in the series (so far)
Curry has a series-high 34.3 points per game, shooting 50 percent from the field and 49.3 percent from 3-point range, thanks to his performance in Game 4. Curry’s scoring average in the series (22.3 points per game) is 12 points more than Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who are tied for second place. Curry is averaging 6.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and two steals per game in addition to his incredible scoring.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics are the most likely candidates to steal votes from Curry, but their cases will only be important if Boston wins the championship. If the Warriors win the title, Curry is a lock to receive the award.
What are the odds according to Pundits?
Brad Botkin of CBS Sports believes Curry has a chance to win Finals MVP regardless of who wins the championship. Part of the reason, he says, is because of Curry’s past against the Celtics’ elite defense in the first four games.
“With 25 made triples so far, Curry is the first player in history to make at least five 3s in four straight Finals games,” Botkin wrote. “After his 43-point masterpiece in Game 4, he’s also one of the three-point guards to ever put up a 40-point/10-rebound Finals line, joining Magic Johnson and [Jerry] West.”
In 2015, a player from the losing team came close to winning Finals MVP for the first time. In the Cavaliers’ six-game loss against the Warriors, LeBron James set series highs in points (35.8 per game), rebounds (13.3 per game), and assists (8.8 per game). James garnered four of the award’s eleven votes, but it wasn’t enough to win.
Curry has never won a Finals MVP despite winning three NBA championships and two MVP awards. In the Warriors’ last two Finals victories, Kevin Durant was named MVP, while forward Andre Iguodala was controversially named MVP in the 2015 series.
Comments