A lot has changed since the Warriors last lost a 3-1 series lead. Back then, Stephen Curry had two kids; now he has four. Draymond Green was clean-shaven; now his beard shows gray.
These two Warriors legends, the last links to their old championship days, clearly show signs of age. But if they lose another big lead, how much more will it weigh on them?
In 2016, the Cavaliers shocked the Warriors and the basketball world by coming back to win the title, thanks to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
Now, the Rockets could knock out the Warriors in the first round, with Curry and Green once again in the spotlight. Both haven’t played their best in the first six games, and that’s part of why the series is tied 3-3.
Still, they have a chance to redeem themselves in Game 7 and avoid repeating history. Even in their mid-30s, they’re known for stepping up when it counts.
Draymond said, “A Game 7 is always fun and exciting.”
Curry added, “If you don’t have the right mindset, you’re in for a long summer.”
That 2016 Finals was full of drama. The Warriors looked set to win it all after a record 73-win season, but the series turned after Draymond was suspended for a technical foul. His absence hurt the team, and Cleveland won three straight games to take the title.
Draymond returned for Game 7 and had one of his best games ever—32 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists—but it was overshadowed by LeBron’s famous block and Kyrie’s winning shot.
Curry also struggled. After a strong start to the series, he faded in Game 7, making only 6 of 19 shots and going scoreless in the final minutes. It was a tough loss for the MVP.
This series against the Rockets has also been up and down. Draymond had a huge stop against Sengun in Game 4, but Sengun bounced back strong in the next two games. Steven Adams, Draymond’s old rival, has also played well off the bench.
Lately, Draymond has struggled with turnovers and missed shots. Even when the Rockets left him open, he didn’t take the shots.
Steph played great in Games 1 and 3 but was average in the others. He’s been dealing with a sore thumb and shot below 40% in the last two losses, missing chances to finish off the Rockets. He also struggled in the fourth quarter on Friday.
Fred VanVleet has outplayed him. The Rockets guard, who helped the Raptors beat Curry in the 2019 Finals, has made 18 of 27 three-pointers in the last three games and played with more urgency because he had to.
Now, Steph and Draymond are at a crossroads: they can either fix past mistakes or repeat them. Curry’s last Game 7 was a great one—he scored 50 points against the Kings, adding to his legacy.
They also have Jimmy Butler, who’s known for stepping up in the playoffs and has been a great teammate since joining the team midseason.
“We win together, we lose together,” Butler said. “And I know we’re going to win together on Sunday.”
But the pressure is really on Draymond Green and Stephen Curry. They had a 3-1 lead, and now it’s 3-3. There’s no room for mistakes. If they lose again, history might not judge them well.
“I know we’re excited that we still have a chance, even though the last two games didn’t go our way,” Curry said.
They’re still alive—but for how long? On Sunday, it’s either smiles … or the season ends.