Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, better known as the “Splash Brothers”, saved the Golden State Warriors’ season. The greatest shooting back court of all time stepped up when the Warriors needed it most. They led the way like they’ve done so many times before to force a game six at Oracle Arena.
When Did They Become the Splash Brothers?
Back in 2013, Mark Jackson said that Curry and Thompson were the best shooting back court of all time. Although that might seem obvious in 2019, back then people literally laughed at the mere suggestion. He made the comment shortly after game two of their first round matchup against the favored Denver Nuggets. That was the first playoff appearance for the Splash Brothers. The statement seemed premature to say the least.
What we didn’t realize at the time was that Jackson had the opportunity to watch them every day in training camp and practice before making that statement. While that doesn’t make you the greatest shooting backcourt in history, it’s what laid the foundation for his bold statement. Remember, Jackson was a star point guard in college before becoming Rookie of the Year with the New York Knicks. He finished his career 2nd all time in assists (currently 4th) one spot ahead of his idol, a guy by the name of Magic Johnson.
When he made that statement, he had to have known the backlash he would get. He also knew they could handle the pressure and responsibility of his words. In fact, the Splash Brothers confirmed that in an interview recently. During the 2012-13 regular season, Curry had put together the greatest shooting season in NBA history. He made an average of 3.5 threes per game while shooting an insane 45% from the field. His 272 threes in a single season was an NBA record at the time, but pales in comparison to his 2014-15 season. That was the season that he made 402 shots from behind the arc.
As for his partner in crime Thompson, he made 276 threes in 2015 while shooting 42.5% from behind the arc. These incredible shooting numbers over a sustained period solidified Jackson’s claim. By 2015, not only were they breaking records in terms of their shooting prowess, they also won 73 regular season games, one more than Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. With a championship in hand and a record setting regular season in their back pocket, the entire basketball world, including the never shy Charles Barkley, who said that a jump shooting team could never win the NBA title, were ready to give the Splash Brothers their crown.
Here is Barkley in 2015 saying they can’t win a title shooting jumpers six months before they did it:
Let’s Fast Forward to the 2019 NBA Finals
Heading into game five, the Splash Brothers legacy was on the line. That may sound like an exaggeration, but with the negative storylines surrounding this team, it was in play. If the Warriors dynasty were to be ended by this upstart Toronto Raptors team that have no Finals experience, it would’ve been seen as the Splash Brothers’ fault.
Although I disagree with this narrative, once Kevin Durant joined them a few years ago, they went from the NBA’s sweethearts to villains. Some fans feel the competitive balance in the NBA took a huge hit once Durant decided to take his talents to the Bay Area. The scene is not set for the sharp shooting duo to prove once again that you can in fact win with a jump shooting team. The once mighty Warriors offense has slowed down this entire series against this hard nosed Raptors defense.
Game 5 wasn’t Curry and Thompson’s most impressive performance finishing with a combined 57 points on 12-27 shooting from three. After all these guys are capable of scoring 50 points individually, something they have both accomplished on several occasions.
With 3:05 left in the game, the Raptors had just came of a 12-2 run to take a 103-97 lead. All of the momentum was with the Toronto at that point and it looked like the end of an era.
On three of the next four posesions for the Warriors, the Splash Brothers reminded everyone exactly what that nickname means. They went 3-4 from three to take a 106-103 lead. Two threes by Thompson and one by Curry would be a much bigger deal if we hadn’t seen it so many times before. The shots they made are the same ones that doubters would say you can’t win a championship with. They’re an exception because they take and make shots that most players wouldn’t attempt.
Things Have Come Full Circle For The Warriors
They still have a long way to go before they complete one of the great comebacks in NBA Finals history. But they’re in position to make history. The game at Oracle on Thursday will be their last in that building. So that means you can expect it to be a mad house. You should also expect the Splash Brothers to close that arena in style, which is bad news for the Raptors.
Things seem to have come full circle for the Warriors. They have a chance to do to the Raptors what the Cavaliers did to them during their 73 win regular season and overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Finals. Can they do it one more time or is this the series that gives the few remaining doubters the ammunition they need to discredit this team as an all time great? If there was ever a moment for the Splash Brothers to quiet the haters, games six and seven are the perfect stage. If they can help their team complete this comeback, they will prove once and for all that they are the best shooting back court the sport has ever seen.
