Continuous Battles and Successful Victories

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Once the second quarter began, Liam made a strategic move by putting Curry on the court at 9 minutes and 5 seconds. This decision went against the team's usual rotation, where Curry played the entire first quarter, entered for about 5 minutes in the second quarter, played the whole third, and came back in the last quarter, totaling around 36 minutes per game.

Liam, however, was inspired by Curry's previous rotation under coach Cole, where Curry rested more in the second quarter to keep his energy for the final 12 minutes of the game. But since the Clippers weren't a particularly tough team, Liam wanted to make a strong statement with a quick win, signaling the Warriors' return and preparing the stage for the next part of the season.

Once Curry entered the court, he immediately took control of the ball as per Liam's plan. By this time, DeAndre Jordan was the one defending the paint for the Clippers. Jordan, who hadn't yet reached the explosive form he would later display in his career, struggled to keep up with Curry. Curry's moves, with his fakes and quick dribbles, were too much for Jordan. In less than 5 minutes, Curry scored 9 points, 6 of them coming from driving to the basket. Though Hughes attempted to organize a follow-up defense, Curry was in top form today. He easily sank layups when left unguarded and hit tough shots when challenged. His off-season training with Brand Payne had paid off, and his confidence was unshakeable.

In the current league, few people recognized the importance of short-range shooting. Most players opted for mid-range jump shots, with only Parker gaining fame for his smooth shooting form. But at Liam's suggestion, Brand Payne developed a systematic training plan for Curry's short and mid-range shots, helping him master the single-step technique inside the free-throw line.

Curry's simple shooting actions, combined with his superior eye-hand coordination, gave him unparalleled shooting speed. However, these simple shots weren't perfect. Curry had a low take-off height and a naturally low release point, making his shots prone to interference and not ideal for mid-range jumpers. This was also why Curry was so accurate with his shots, but rarely attempted mid-range shots. To improve his offensive efficiency, Liam encouraged him to take more three-pointers and attack the paint. But as an All-Star, Curry needed a complete range of scoring options to avoid being easily restricted.

This is where the floater came into play. While still not fully proficient, it allowed Curry to punish defenses more effectively, making him harder to limit. On this night, though, Curry's floater was on point, and he dominated the Clippers' defense. In the second quarter, Curry played 9 minutes, scored 12 points, and forced Jordan into 3 fouls. Hughes had no choice but to pull Jordan off the floor quickly.

Originally, Hughes wanted to use Jordan's mobility to defend Curry, but it quickly became clear that Jordan couldn't match up to Kaman. Though Kaman was slower, his defensive positioning was far better than Jordan's. Jordan, a little frustrated as he sat on the bench, soon regained his spirits, chatting with his teammates as if the Warriors were the ones behind in the game, not the Clippers.

Jordan's stats for the season showed a modest 16.2 minutes per game with 4.8 points and 5 rebounds, a far cry from his later success as a defensive player. Despite this, his mentality was strong, and he never let his limited playing time get to him. Whether he made a mistake or drew a foul, he always came back with energy and effort.

At halftime, Curry had already scored 35 points with an extremely high shooting efficiency, leading the Warriors to a 21-point lead, 70-49, over the Clippers. The Staples Center, usually a place of frustration for visiting teams, was filled with Warriors fans cheering loudly, while the Clippers' fans were sparse and silent.

During the break, Liam addressed the team in the locker room:

"Stephen has fully regained his form. We have a 21-point lead, but we can't let up. I want a perfect victory. In the second half, we must maintain our intensity. If anyone slacks off, I'll replace you. Understand?"

"Yes, Coach!" the Warriors responded loudly.

The team's massive lead had boosted their confidence to the max. While they had no doubts about winning the game, Liam's warning was a timely reminder not to get complacent.

In the second half, Liam's concerns turned out to be accurate. The Warriors' defense relaxed, and Gordon quickly capitalized on that by scoring 5 consecutive points. Liam immediately called for a timeout and substituted Azubuike, who had been defending Gordon. He took the opportunity to sternly address the team:

"If you don't want to play, then stop playing! Stephen is doing his job on defense, why are you just walking around? Kelanna, if your injury hasn't healed, keep resting. If you're ready, just give me a solid effort! I don't need players who can only attack but can't defend. Focus on applying pressure on the ball! Do you hear me?"

Azubuike quickly replied, "Coach, my injury is healed. I'll defend well."

Liam shot him a sharp look, considering pulling him from the game, but since Azubuike had just returned from injury, he decided to give him a chance against the Clippers, who were the perfect team for him to find his rhythm. He let out a frustrated sigh:

"Fine. Sit there for a few minutes, and I'll give you another chance. If you slack off again, you'll be sitting for good."

After the timeout, no one on the Warriors dared to slack off. Everyone worked hard on defense. On offense, the Clippers, now double-teaming Curry, couldn't stop him from setting up plays for his teammates, and the Warriors' offense flourished.

By the end of the third quarter, Curry had added only 4 more points, but he dished out 7 assists, helping the Warriors extend their lead to 25 points, 89-64. The game had essentially lost all suspense.

In the fourth quarter, Liam didn't let Curry play, and the Warriors' bench, led by Lowry, continued to pound the Clippers.

At the final buzzer, the Warriors won decisively, 110-84, by 26 points. Curry had played 33 minutes and scored 39 points in three quarters, adding 9 assists and 4 rebounds, fully regaining his form.

When the lights went out, the Staples Center erupted in applause, creating a scene that made Liam feel like he was back at the Oracle Arena.

Kenny Smith exclaimed:

"Stephen Curry dropped 39 points. This was his first 30+ point game in the last 20 games, and it was extremely efficient. He took 19 shots and hit 12 of them, including 8 three-pointers. He's back! That All-Star guard is back!"

Barkley smiled and said:

"Kenny, don't be so surprised. When Curry played against Kaman and DeAndre Jordan in the first half, we should've expected this. When Curry finds his rhythm, you can't stop him."

After the game, Hughes was interviewed by reporters from TNT. He smiled bitterly and said:

"Stephen Curry destroyed our defense. He's an All-Star for a reason."

A reporter asked Curry:

"You scored 39 points tonight. It's the first time you've scored more than 30 points since the All-Star break. Can you tell us why you were in such great form tonight?"

Curry smiled slightly:

"My girlfriend came to the game, and that really boosted my spirits… Of course, that's not the main reason. We need to fight for a spot in the playoffs, and that's the most important thing."

Liam also responded when reporters asked him:

"I'm really happy to see Stephen back in form. Anderson will return to the team soon. I feel better than ever. We're definitely making the playoffs."

On March 31, the Warriors traveled to Utah to face the Jazz. Against the modern "Utah Double" of Deron Williams and Boozer, Liam organized a tight defensive strategy and exploited the Jazz's weakness in their lack of shooters. They deployed heavy defense against the pick-and-roll combination of Williams and Boozer.

Though Korver had several open three-point looks and hit 12 points from 4-9 shooting from beyond the arc, the Warriors' defense shut down the Jazz's inside game. Boozer struggled, making only 3 of 10 shots and scoring just 9 points.

Deron Williams, while stepping up, proved limited in his scoring, not averaging more than 22 points per game in any season, and this year, he was only averaging 18.7 points per game. His scoring explosiveness was not a threat.

In this game, Williams scored 24 points but only handed out 5 assists, half of his usual average. Curry continued his hot form from the Clippers game, exploiting the best pick-and-roll opportunities and hitting big shots. Okur added 31 points to help the Warriors defeat the Jazz 89-76.

In a defensive battle, Curry had no trouble scoring. Coach Jerry Sloan, once convinced that Curry's three-point game wouldn't hurt the Jazz, now saw how wrong he was. Every shot Curry made was a dagger in the heart of the Jazz's fans, and they helplessly watched the Warriors take the victory.

After the game, even Sloan, stubborn as he was, had to admit:

"At first, I thought Stephen Curry would be like Jeff Hornacek. Later, I thought he might be like Reggie Miller at best. But I was wrong. He's Stephen Curry. I've never seen a shooter so consistently accurate, and with such versatility."

April 2: The Warriors Return Home to Face the Knicks

Due to Liam's influence, many things had changed, some becoming almost unrecognizable. David Lee didn't join the Warriors; instead, he stayed with the Knicks, and the Knicks remained just as bad as ever.

In this game, both teams fought hard, but the difference was that the Warriors played solid defense.

After more than a month of training, Varejao made his return. His tough defense made David Lee uncomfortable. Although Lee still managed to score 25 points, his efficiency was not high, hitting only 10 of 21 shots.

The Knicks were overwhelmed by the Warriors' relentless offense. After holding out for just two and a half quarters, they found themselves trailing by 29 points, effectively making the game a blowout.

Curry didn't need to exert much effort. He hit 7 of 12 shots, including 4 of 8 from beyond the arc and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. He efficiently posted a double-double with 22 points and 12 assists. By the end of the third quarter, the Warriors led the Knicks 118–93.

It's worth mentioning that Varejao contributed 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks during his time on the floor. When he was substituted in for Liam, he received applause from the fans.

This didn't surprise Liam. In his previous life, this season was Varejao's peak, and he was selected to the All-NBA Defensive Second Team. It was the only time in his career he made it to an All-NBA squad.

Now, he was showing good defensive abilities, excelling both in individual defense and help defense. However, the Warriors' defensive scheme wasn't quite like the Cavaliers'. The team focused on shrinking the paint and rotating for position, emphasizing team defense. As a result, Varejao didn't get many opportunities to showcase his individual skills, and he wasn't called upon to enter the defensive formation.

But that didn't stop Varejao from fitting into the Warriors' defensive system. As Chandler's integration with the team deepened, the Warriors' interior defense had vastly improved compared to the start of the season.

April 4: Warriors Travel to Toronto to Face the Raptors

The Raptors were currently in the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference, competing with the Bulls for a playoff berth. They were bringing their best effort into every game, determined not to let this one slip against the Warriors.

Chris Bosh, the "Dragon King," played a hard-fought 43 minutes. If Raptors coach Jay Triano hadn't pulled him off the floor, Bosh would have played the entire game. Bosh was determined to win this one.

He used his performance to show Varejao that there was a difference between All-Stars and All-Stars. Varejao, though troublesome, was treated like nothing by Bosh. Bosh shot 11 of 19 from the field and 10 of 13 from the free-throw line, finishing with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 steals, dominating the mid-range.

However, the Raptors still couldn't win the game because Curry was simply unstoppable from beyond the arc.

In this crucial battle, where both teams were desperate for a win, Liam relaxed his restrictions on Curry's playing time and gave him unlimited shooting freedom. Curry rose to the occasion, playing 39 minutes, alternating with pick-and-rolls against Bosh and Bargnani. He made 13 of 20 shots, including 9 of 16 from three-point range and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line. He finished with 37 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds, leading the Warriors to a hard-fought 95–91 victory over the Raptors.

End of this chapter

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