OAKLAND -- In regards to mounting concerns about Stephen Curry's shooting, Kevin Durant offers logical advice that can be distilled to three words:
He's Steph Curry.
"I knew the next couple days were going to be about Steph struggling shooting the ball," Durant said Friday after practice. "But that's the last thing I'm worried about with Steph. I've got so much confidence in him on the offensive side of the basketball, as far as shooting the ball.
"I look at him and, I said this way before (media) even said it, ‘He's the best shooter that ever played.' So I've got confidence in him on that side. I think we all do, all the fans and all the players."
Curry scored 16 points, on 7-of-19 shooting, including 1-of-8 from beyond the arc in a 127-105 loss to Houston on Wednesday in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. He is 15-of-34 (44.1 percent) overall in the series but only 2-of-13 from deep.
"They're switching out a lot, doing a solid job of switching out," Durant said. "But he's doing a good job of driving to the rim. He may have missed a few 3s. But if we worry about missed 3s with Steph Curry...
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"At some point, if he'll just continue being aggressive, keep fighting over screens and playing good defense and getting into the paint, just keeping himself in the flow, he'll be fine."
In six games since Curry returned -- after a 39-day absence -- for Game 2 of the semifinals against New Orleans, he is shooting 46.5 percent overall and 36.2 percent from deep.
Looking forward to Game 3 on Sunday, Curry conveys no worry at all. He is, in his mind, no more than one shot away from looking like the player fans expect to see.
"I only need one," he said. "That's all I need.
"I don't really need any. I have confidence in myself. My teammates have confidence in me to do what I need to do."
Those numbers are beneath the Curry standard, which has prompted considerable conversation about whether he is fully recovered from the ankle and knee injuries that kept him out of the lineup much of the regular season.
"I don't think anything is lingering from the injury," Durant said. "I just think a couple shots went in and out. If he makes a couple of those 3s that were open, we're talking about a different night.
"It's a make-or-miss league. And when Steph misses a shot, everybody gets up in arms about it. That's how great he is. So many people expect him to make every single shot. And sometimes that doesn't happen."
Durant happens to be Curry's frequent post-practice workout partner, the two of them taking turns firing three-pointers from all around the arc. Each has said he learns from the other.
Durant has learned that Curry's shooting eye never wanders for too long.
"Just the talk of him on the offensive side of the ball, let's give that a rest because he's Steph Curry," Durant said. "Who are we even worried about?
"As his teammate, I expect nothing but greatness out of him. That's how everybody should look at Steph."
| Game | Result/Schedule |
| Game 1 | Warriors 119, Rockets 106 |
| Game 2 | Rockets 127, Warriors 105 |
| Game 3 | Oakland -- Sunday, May 20th at 5 p.m. |
| Game 4 | Oakland -- Tuesday, May 22nd at 6 p.m. |
| Game 5 | Houston -- Thursday, May 24th at 6 p.m. |
| Game 6 | Oakland -- Saturday, May 26th at 6 p.m. (if necessary) |
| Game 7 | Houston -- Monday, May 28th at 6 p.m. (if necessary) |
