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Steph Curry’s 50-point masterpiece started well before Game 7, with a speech
and a promise to his Warriors

Curry的50分從G7開打之前就開始了，當時他向勇士隊的隊友發表了演說，並作出承諾。


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SACRAMENTO — Stephen Curry’s epic Game 7 performance — in which his 50 poin
ts set a record for a win-or-go-home game — actually began Saturday morning.
Well before the Warriors’ 120-100 win over the Kings.

Stephen Curry的史詩般的G7表現 — 他在搶七大戰中創下了50分的紀錄 — 實際上是從
週六早上就開始的。在勇士以120-100擊敗國王前已經開始。


He was so angry after their Game 6 loss on Friday night, when they squandered
a chance to clinch with a spirit-less loss at Chase Center. He was so disguste
d by how they played, so disappointed in the division they allowed to seep in.
 Curry couldn’t sleep.




When he gave up trying and got up, before the sun had even risen, he checked h
is phone and saw a text at 3:45 a.m. Turns out Draymond Green couldn’t sleep
either.

當他放棄嘗試入睡並起床時，太陽還未升起，他查看手機，看到凌晨3:45的一條簡訊。原
來Draymond Green也無法入睡。


They exchanged messages about their embarrassment, how Kings guard Malik Monk
called them old, about the fractured focus they’ve witnessed in their huddle.
 Green was prepared to speak to the team, to try galvanizing the bunch. But Cu
rry was fed up enough to tell Green, “let me take this one.” That was all Gr
een needed to hear.




Before the start of Saturday’s film session, Curry stood before the group. In
 the glass-walled atrium on the ninth floor of Chase Center, a space known as
“Above the Rim” that overlooks the Bay, he had their undivided attention.




“I don’t even talk a lot,” Curry said to the team, “but I’ve got somethin
g to say.”

「我平常不怎麼說話，」Curry對球隊說，「但現在我有些話要說。」


His speeches are scarce. His pep talks are mostly one-on-one. Teammates consid
er it rare, but when he does speak, everyone listens explicitly.

他的演說並不常見，他的鼓舞大多是一對一的，隊友們認為這很罕見。但是當他發表演說
時，每個人都會明確地聽。


This speech, though, would become part of his legend. The prelude to perfectio
n.

然而，這次演說將成為他傳奇的一部分，成為完美的序幕。


Even though he’s one of the guys, Curry still has an aura in the Warriors loc
ker room. They see his humility, his jovial nature and approachability. But th
ey know who he is, who they get to play with. His respect is unimpeachable. Th
ey recognize a legend in their midst.




“He is that guy,” Gary Payton II said at his locker after the game. “So whe
n he speaks, everybody better listen. Because 30 is usually quiet and lets his
 game speak for itself. But he had to say what he had to say, because he knew
what type of vibe it was … and I don’t think he wanted to give this one up.
So he led and we followed.”




The reason they listen was on display at the Golden 1 Center on Sunday. In 38
minutes, Curry snatched hope from the Kings. In 38 shots, Curry reminded the w
orld of his greatness.

週日在Golden 1 Center，他們的聽從展現無遺。在38分鐘內，Curry從國王隊手中奪走了
希望。38次的投籃讓世界再次見證到他的偉大。


And when he was done, he was telling the raucous Kings fans they weren’t read
y for the wrath of a legend. He dropped 50 and then was looking for 50 Cent to
 light the beam. But on this afternoon, it wouldn’t be a purple laser piercin
g the sky. Instead a blue and gold goat signal.




Curry averaged 31 points on 22.3 shots over the first six games of the series.
 The Warriors had outscored the Kings by 33 points in his minutes heading into
 Game 7. Sunday, he had 27 shots through three quarters. By the time he checke
d out for good with 2:39 remaining, he was plus-25. The same Kings who looked
so close to knocking off the defending champions suddenly looked so far from t
he level the Warriors reached.




“At this point, he’s reminding people for no reason,” Jordan Poole said, “
He’s got the same edge as any of the other greats. Mamba Mentality, all of th
at s—. Steph got that s—. That’s what makes him so special. Maybe his appro
ach is a bit different than the other guys, but we know he’s a killer. Everyb
ody in the world knows he’s a killer.”




But the Warriors didn’t win solely because of Curry’s 50. They won because,
unlike in Game 6 at Chase Center, they were locked in for the biggest game of
the season to date. Their team defense kept Sacramento to 42 second-half point
s. They were united as they took on the emboldened, youthful Kings, took on th
e frenzied crowd, took on the pressure of keeping their dynasty alive.




And they were together because Curry made sure of it. With what a few of his t
eammates called the greatest speech of his career.

而他們團結在一起是因為 Curry確保了這一點。據他的幾位隊友透露，這是他職業生涯最
好的演說。


“It gave me chills,” Andrew Wiggins said. “No. 30, he’s different, man.”

「它讓我起雞皮疙瘩，」Andrew Wiggins說。「30號，他與眾不同。」


According to multiple sources in the private session, Curry told the team he b
elieved in them, that they had enough to win. He asked for their trust in retu
rn. He assured them he could deliver victory if they all bought in. He implore
d them to put all of their feelings aside — which sources with knowledge of t
he locker room felt was messaging directed at Poole, Jonathan Kuminga and othe
r guys who might’ve been unhappy for reasons such as playing time and role —
 and lock in to the unified mission. Anyone who wanted to remain in their emot
ions, he told them to stay home. Anyone who was ready for their vacation, he t
old them not to get on the bus for Sacramento. But anyone who did get on the b
us, Curry took that as a signature of approval, a binding agreement to be on b
oard with the mission. And if they did that, if they got on the bus, he promis
ed he’d deliver. With his game, his faith, their solidarity, they’d win.



Because of who he is, and how rarely he does this, it hit home in a way only C

urry could pull off. He saved the Warriors’ season before Game 7 even began.

正因為他是 Curry，以及他很少這樣做，所以這段話以他自己的方式產生了深刻的影響。
在G7開始之前，他就挽救了勇士的賽季。


“You’re in this space where you gon’ fold or you gon’ rise up,” Green sai
d, his voice raising with excitement as he relived the speech. “Once he did t
hat, you have no choice but to rise up. He f—ing got everybody locked in. ‘I
f you’re getting on this bus, you’re making a commitment to this team. No ma
tter if you play zero minutes or 40 minutes. You’re making a commitment to do
 whatever it takes. Prepare your mind and body for this opportunity we have. W
e got embarrassed the other night and we never f—ing going out like that.’”




Kevon Looney — who had his own career night, grabbing 20 or more rebounds for
 the third time this series — said he knew it was over when Curry, early in t
he game, waved off a screen. He wanted to go iso. That usually means his aggre
ssion is at max levels, that he sees a weakness and wants to attack it.




He had 20 points by halftime. He went at Terence Davis, who replaced Davion Mi
tchell on Curry as the Kings sought more space and shooting. And when it wasn
’t Davis, Curry was luring Keegan Murray onto him. But, very much on brand, i
t was the third quarter where Curry put his foot on the gas. He scored 14 poin
ts on 5-for-12 shooting in the quarter, leading the way as turning a small Kin
gs halftime lead into a 10-point advantage.

他在上半場得到了20分。他在與Terence Davis對抗時，後者因國王希望獲得更多空間



Suddenly, it was the Kings who looked nervous, who felt the pressure of the mo
ment. They started looking like so many have during this championship era, whe
n the weight of the Warriors finally crushes them. The James Harden Rockets. T
he Damian Lillard Blazers. The Kevin Durant Thunder. The LeBron James Cavalier
s. The Ja Morant Grizzlies. The Jayson Tatum Celtics. And now the De’Aaron Fo
x Kings.




The Warriors weren’t playing lights out. Wiggins, whose 17 points was the nex
t highest for the Warriors, missed enough layups and free throws to leave him
frustrated. Klay Thompson was 4-for-19. The Warriors got just 18 points from t
heir bench and made fewer than a third of their 3-pointers again. That doesn’
t count a season full of drama they’d been lugging around like baggage. The f
issures that were ready to rip open. The tired legs and wanting size.



What the Warriors did have, however, was Curry and a newfound togetherness. Th
ey had a promise from one of the all-time greats and a bus loaded with commitm
ent.

然而，勇士隊擁有的是 Curry和新建立的團結。他們擁有一位史上最偉大的球員的承諾和
一輛充滿承諾的大巴。


When Curry finished his appeal to the team, he opened the floor for anyone els
e who had something to add. He started the seminal moment but was willing to s
hare with a teammate.

當 Curry完成了他對球隊的演說時，他讓其他想要發言的人發言。他開創了這一重要時刻
，但願意與隊友分享。


But there was no need. After Curry speaks, nothing more needs to be said.

但是沒有必要。在 Curry說完之後，再也不需要說什麼。


“Enough said champ!” Green yelled in response to Curry. “Nobody got nothing
! That’s it. What else can be said?”

「夠了，冠軍！」格林激動地回應庫里。「沒人再有什麼可說的！就是這樣。還能說什麼
呢？」


The only talking left to do was on the court.

剩下的談話只能在球場上進行。

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※ 作者: XXXaBg 2023-05-01 14:52:58
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