Over the years in the NBA, one of the biggest rivalries has to be between Stephen Curry and LeBron James. After beating the Sacramento Kings in a hard fought first round series, the Warriors are up against LeBron’s Los Angeles Lakers. After facing the veteran in four straight NBA finals, the Warriors are having yet another faceoff against them.
Coming to rivalries, Curry versus LeBron is something that has turned up many times in the last decade. The players are absolute legends in their own right and whenever they meet they try to outplay each other.
The Lakers have taken the early lead by winning Game 1 and therefore, fans are expecting a response from the defending champions in Game 2.
While discussing his arch-rival, Curry shared a very interesting thought on his transformation from the time he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers and now with the Lakers. He feels that things have changed in these years and even LeBron as a player has transformed through the years.
“You have to reflect on everything that we’ve all gone through since the ’15 Finals, and just appreciate the opportunity to have another chapter in that battle and that competition,” Curry said, via Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
He highlights how the Lakers are different to the old Cavaliers team starting from the style of play. He highlights how LeBron is coming at him differently and space him out. He also notices that LeBron is now more inclined towards hitting more threes. “Obviously once the ball drops, it’s a different feel just based on how the Lakers play versus the old Cavs teams, and even just a different style that he’s playing a little bit. He’s trying to come at you a little differently and space you out a little bit. He’s shooting a lot more threes and stuff like that. It’s just a little different vibe,” Curry added.
Over the years, LeBron has adapted to the game brilliantly and in the era of shooting three-pointers, he added that arsenal to his game. While earlier he used to be the focal point of the Cavs, he still remains the main man for the Lakers but he does not hog the ball as much as he did in the past.
His explosiveness isn’t the same with age and injury concerns and therefore he had to focus and master other tactics in defence.
Despite all the changes, LeBron James dropped a double-double against the Warriors on Game 1. He finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds along with four assists. Anthony Davis finished with game-high 30 points as the Lakers won 117-112.
