Maybe the Mavericks should invent some sort of cool go-to move, a sign for themselves, an inside joke on everybody else.
Like Steph Curry has.
You saw it Friday night near the end of Game 2 when the Warriors were completing an impressive rally from 19 points down that ended with a 126-117 victory and a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals that shift to American Airlines Center on Sunday night.
The move Curry has made popular seemingly overnight is when he puts both hands together on one side of his head, as if laying down.
Bedtime, he calls it.
He did the move when he hit his final 3-pointer with just over a minute left, putting a final exclamation point on the win.
And putting the Mavericks’ to sleep, figuratively.
It’s the same move Curry has done before, starting, it is believed, back in the first round against Denver.
“I have no idea,” Curry said after Friday’s win about why he’s become so obsessed with bedtime in the playoffs. “You can tell I don’t choreograph none of that stuff. Just having fun. You talk about having kids, you know how bedtime routines are important.
“It’s the final signal for a job well done that day. So pretty special.”
And by the way, Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr has no problem with the way Curry has handled his business when it comes to delivering messages.
“I don’t mind it at all,” Kerr said. “And I think what’s notable is that I don’t think we’ve run into any opponents who have seemed to mind it. I think Steph, the way he carries himself and the way he handles being on the other end of that stuff, he realizes it’s kind of all part of the game.
“Players are going to trash talk during the game and he enjoys that part of the show. But there’s a humility to Steph that people and fellow players also recognize and I think they respect him and that’s why he gets away with it where as some guys may not.”
While a lot of attention has rightfully been focused on Warriors’ center Kevon Looney, who had a career-best 21 points to go with 12 rebounds on Friday, Curry remains the head of the snake for Golden State.
And admittedly, one bite from him can knock an opponent out.
But the Mavericks are not out for the count. Not even close.
They have been stunned, for sure. Going down 2-0 against a team that has as much firepower on both sides of the court as the Warriors is a difficult position to be in.
But Golden State has every right to feel good about itself. Overcoming the 19-point second-quarter deficit was impressive. They handled a really strong counterpunch after the Game 1 loss by the Mavericks.
It was something they expected, Curry said.
“We knew they were going to come out aggressive, making shots,” he said. “(But) we didn’t think they were going to be that hot. No matter what we did, it seemed like they always found the right guy.
“But also, you look at the scoreboard and we got it down to 14 (at halftime) and 14 is more than manageable for us if we come out and influence the game on the defensive end.”
And the Warriors did. They stopped the Mavericks, who could not do the same to the Warriors in the second half, particularly in a 40-spot in the fourth quarter.
Give the Warriors credit for handling their business in the first two games at home.
Maybe fans should bring pillows to Game 3 on Sunday night, just in case it’s the Mavericks’ who give a sleeping pill to the Warriors in the form of protecting the home court.
At the very least, the Mavericks have to remember the bedtime story, since Curry was close to their bench when he unleashed his theatrics.
“I was looking at the ball and looking at the rim, so I was talking to myself. I don’t know who heard it,” he said. “It’s a good way to finish the game, and we got to take that into Game 3.”
And the Mavericks have to combat it or risk going down 3-0. And we all know what that means since no team in NBA history has ever clawed out of a 3-0 hole.
Bullock contributing, in more ways than one: Reggie Bullock has had a solid start to his first trip to a conference finals. He has averaged 16.5 points in the opening two games and has hit 9-of-20 3-pointers.
But that pales in comparison to him being nominated as a finalist for the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award, which honors the NBA’s most impactful social-justice advocates who are continuing the league’s tradition of activism.
“It means a lot,” Bullock said. “Obviously, it was something tragic that happened with my two siblings. To be nominated for all the things I do off the court and also have my name tied with such a great like Kareem. It’s very dope. The only thing I wish is that my sisters could be here to see the moment and me be nominated for an award like that.”
Bullock, an advocate of LGBTQ equity for many years, has participated in the New York City pride march and numerous other initiatives. He lost two sisters in separate incidents that strengthened his belief in LGBTQ rights.
Familiar feeling: Golden State coach Steve Kerr was asked what he could compare playing against Luka Dončić to.
It didn’t take him long to come up with a comparison.
“The most similar matchup was Houston a few years ago with James Harden because it was a similar look in terms of having a superstar player who can step back and make a three, get to the rim and he’s got four teammates behind the 3-point line that can make threes,” Kerr said. “So the matchup was similar.
“I’m not sure how helpful that is. We have a very different team now. But it does remind me, Luka and James, there’s a similar pressure you feel on every possession. They can create an easy shot for a teammate or themselves.”
Clearly, as Dončić rolled up 42 points in Game 2, the Warriors found a way to lose the battle, but win the war – also known as the game.
Twitter: @ESefko
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