The Bounce: Steph vs. LeBron meet again, Thibs’ random mercy and fatiguing Phoenix

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Steph Curry is really the most devastating offensive player since Prime Shaq.

Rivalry and Redemption

More title-ready: Warriors or Lakers?

Remember that part of “The Shawshank Redemption” when Andy Dufresne trudges through the sewer of feces to reach his freedom?

The Lakers’ and Warriors’ respective seasons, in a basketball sense, feel like that scene.

They’ll tip off their second-round series on Tuesday. These squads have endured maddening seasons despite having two of the best players ever.

Golden State couldn’t win on the road all year prior to winning Game 5 in Sacramento and blowing a shot to close the series at home in Game 6. Winning twice on the road in a week is difficult after doing so only 12 times in 44 chances.

Game 7 against the Kings – in Sacramento – was set up to be the toughest testing ground of the Warriors’ latest title defense. On Sunday, the defending champion Warriors kept their season alive.

Thankfully, they have Steph Curry. We’ve wondered all season whether Golden State could get its act together and flip the switch to channel their elusive championship qualities. It turns out Steph Curry is the switch.

He dropped 50 points on the road in a Game 7, ending the Kings’ ambitions of lighting the beam one more time. It’s another arrow to the body of any online enemy dumb enough to believe Curry doesn’t come up big in the postseason. Though it’s just a first-round victory for the defending champs, Curry has been dominant enough to make you believe this team has a title defense in it after all.

Awaiting the Warriors are the Lakers, who bullied the Grizzlies via a 40-point Game 6 closeout victory on Friday – it was a tough night for a Memphis team who suddenly got awfully quiet. The leadership of LeBron James and Anthony Davis has channeled the Lakers’ talented supporting group into one capable of a deep run. A once-broken Lakers team prior to the trade deadline now looks empowered, healthy and balanced.

Both the Warriors and Lakers have climbed through their respective sewers and now find themselves facing each other on the outside. Either Denver or Phoenix will await this series’ winner, but eyeing the title chances for either Golden State or L.A. will be compelling for even casual basketball fans.

And with both legends hoping to build on their historic legacies, it’s awesome to get LeBron versus Steph in the playoffs once again.

Let’s kick it over to Shams for more on Steph’s historic do-or-die performance.

The Latest From Shams

Steph’s legendary Game 7 message

Steph Curry added another seemingly mythical accomplishment to his resume on Sunday with another NBA record: the first 50-point masterpiece in Game 7 history.

It was also Curry’s highest single-game point total in 141 career playoff games.

Saying the reigning Finals MVP found another gear would be an understatement. And, from what I’m told, his newfound level could be the driving force behind one of the most highly anticipated second-round matchups in recent memory, with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and an even bigger in-state rival awaiting.

Sources told me and The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II that, prior to Game 7 and following the team’s disastrous home effort in Game 6 to put the champs on the brink, Curry decided to address the team.

“I don’t even talk a lot,” Curry is said to have told the team, “but I’ve got something to say.”

It truly was a rare occurrence to see Curry take on this kind of role, with Draymond Green usually taking on the more vocal aspects of leadership, but we’re told that it resonated with the team in a big way.

For more details on what Steph told his team, and some of the internal dynamics of this Warriors team, be sure to read our story.

Back to you, Zach!

Sweep the Leg

Knicks, what were you thinking?

The Heat took Game 1 on Madison Square Garden’s floor by shutting down the Knicks in the second half. The most perplexing point of the loss wasn’t an untimely rotation or a poor shooting performance by New York. It was what could only be categorized as either a complete lack of situational awareness or an oddly timed sign of mercy.

With 5:05 left in the game, the Knicks were down 95-92 when Jimmy Butler got fouled by Josh Hart. The foul occurred when Butler slipped as Hart lost his footing as well. It resulted in Butler injuring his ankle and writhing on the ground for a couple minutes. It looked like Miami’s series and season both ended right there.

But in classic Butler fashion, he was just tougher than the moment. 

He knocked down his free throws, stayed in the game and essentially acted like a decoy for the rest of Game 1. Perplexing enough, the Knicks somehow never tried to test Butler’s ankle.

They went minute after minute, possession after possession abstaining from attacking his limited defensive mobility.

Why would you not sweep the leg? Why would you show mercy? Why wouldn’t you attack Miami’s strongest link who suddenly became their weakest? The Knicks could have sent Butler to sit on the bench alongside Tyler Herro in street clothes. Instead, they allowed the Heat to close out the victory and handed over home-court advantage to the 8 seed.

Now, the Heat are up 1-0 on the Knicks, and we await Jimmy’s status for Game 2 on Tuesday. Tom Thibodeau showed either mercy or incompetence.

Out Of Your Depth

Denver should run Phoenix into the ground

While Thibs didn’t seize the moment on Sunday, the Nuggets certainly did so on Saturday night. There was no taking it easy on the short-handed Suns. Phoenix doesn’t have any grand injuries keeping guys out of the lineup. On a good day, the Suns simply run about four deep with their rotation.

Denver decided to push the tempo against Phoenix and test the limits of the latter’s fatigue. Jamal Murray kept attacking. Aaron Gordon decided to make them work. Nikola Jokić played bully ball. And any time the Suns thought about going on a run, the Nuggets made sure to run them out of the game. Final score: 125-107.

Depth was always going to be an issue for the Suns after the Kevin Durant trade, but it shouldn’t be this bad. Monty Williams must play his stars too many minutes in this postseason. And Denver’s depth gives them the same advantage we saw most nights in the regular season. In Game 1, Phoenix didn’t shoot enough 3-pointers or get to the rim enough. Denver kept the Suns right where they want them.

Moving forward, the Suns must get their stars going and avoid turning the ball over. Durant and Devin Booker were fine, but they need to be elite. It’s the only way to put pressure on a Nuggets team desperate to prove they’ve been overlooked for years.

Phoenix must keep the game slow and steady – or they’ll be out quickly.

Bounce Passes

You can’t break up the Warriors because they refuse to let it happen.

De’Aaron Fox lost the series but gained valuable lessons in his first NBA postseason.

No Dunks reacts to Steph’s 50-point Game 7 and Jimmy being a good decoy.

Imagine getting a lifetime deal with Nike. Well, if you’re Kevin Durant, you don’t have to imagine anymore.

The Grizzlies embarrassed themselves at the end. Where do they go from here?

You must watch Jeff Teague tell his firsthand account of Jimmy Butler’s famous T’Wolves practice.

(Photo of Stephen Curry, LeBron James:  Harry How/ Getty Images)