STARS easily score points in double digits or they aren’t called stars at all.
Even on their off-nights, they can do it. “Only” 10 points or a little bit more, maybe, but that’d still be fine.
In fact, even with one eye closed, they can still sink baskets in bundles. They are that good that, perhaps, even with one of their hands tied behind their back, they could still do it.
They are the Houdinis on the hardcourt: Escape artists when it comes to running away with a basket galore. Take Steph Curry. He buries baskets so easily the act looks like second nature to him. As ordinary as high-fiving.
And now this: Curry attributes his shooting skill more on his freedom to shoot at will than anything. He attributes his license to shoot to his Warriors coach, Steve Kerr.
“It is nice to turn around and not hear your coach on the sideline chewing you out,” Curry said. “I’d like to say I deserve that little wiggle room there for sure.”
Curry said that after scoring 51 points on Thursday in Golden State’s 144-122 rout of Washington.
And yet, he played in only three quarters, banging home 18 straight points in one stretch.
Some nights, a PBA team couldn’t even score that much in one quarter. But if Curry is that good, Kerr is even better. Kerr knows a star when he sees one.
And having Curry as his No. 1 star in a star-studded Golden State lineup, Kerr, sure, knows what to do. He learned from Phil Jackson: Leave your main man alone. Let him do what he pleases.
Jackson it was who coached Chicago to two NBA Triple Crown affairs in the Nineties. Unprecedented.
Jackson’s secret? His chief gunner, who is none other than Michael Jordan. Isn’t Jordan generally regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time?
So free as a bird was Jordan to do what he wanted at Chicago that every time Jackson dispatched him for action, His Airness would act as player and coach rolled into one.
Kerr knows that by heart. Jordan was his teammate during most of Chicago’s championship runs. With Curry under his wing since he became Golden State coach some five or so years ago, Kerr knew exactly that he had a Jordan in Curry at his disposal.
Pressing the Jackson default next would come in handy.
The Medium. My good friend Jay Valencia-Glorioso stars in the Leo Rialp-directed “The Medium” on Nov. 2, 3, 4 and 23, 24 & 25 at the Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall, Maybank Performing Arts Theater on BGC Arts Center, Taguig City. Watch this opera thriller and be reborn. Call Ticketworld at 8919999 or 09189085088 for reservations.