As a Steph fan, i think its the right gameplan. Keep the other guys ice cold, and out of the offense. If Steph puts up 45 for the next three games you MAY lose the series. If Klay and Pool put up 30 you WILL lose the series. Make Steph work on defense, and hope that he doesn't have the legs to carry them three more games. Grind him down. It's the right play. But for it to work Boston has to play better offense, and cannot turn the ball over. This is going to be a great week of basketball!!

Steph heard all the “Marcus Smart holds Steph to 39% “ talk before the series & simply took it personal

JJ's favorite words are "drop coverage" 😂

Steph is the MJ of this era.. and before you take things out if context, I'm not saying he's the GOAT but His aura, his presence on the court, his ability offensively he absolutely scares the heck out of the opposition. Not to mention he is the greatest show in basketball by a wide margin.

It's refreshing to have an analyst like JJ who can give hot-takes AND break down the game. Most hot-take guys just focus on stats like 4th quarter scoring, etc. Steven A was just listening once the convo switched to defensive schemes

Curry is 1 of few players I've actually seen get bulkier and still remain consistent. I think it's honestly freaky how he could put on all that muscle and his shot isn't even affected!

As what BronBron said. "YOU CANT" LMAO

JJ Redick certainly knows a great deal about basketball

Just pray Steph miss. But praying is not a "good defensive" strategy.

Celtics had Gm 4 under the control until the final 5 minutes when they went scoreless for 4 minutes. Jaylen seems to love playing in SF. His home away from home he tweeted.

They didn't make him work as much on defense in Game 4 so he was fresher in the 4th, and the Celtics offense down the stretch was atrocious, iso ball, no movement, no drives much less drive and kick. Can't have both of those things and win.

no you can't slow steph.. you can slow everyone else though

At this point it wouldn’t be bad idea if curry shot 25 + shots if he’s making 50 percent of threes and twos

3:38, Like I said at the beginning right here on Stephen A's. First Take page. Steph Curry IS CLUTCH. Steph Curry is a Top 10 player in NBA history. And no disrespect to Boston, which is a really good team, I expected a 6 or 7 game series, and I picked Steph and the Warriors to win a 4th World Championship.

Missing in Action again after a loss . Kendrick Perkins.

Boston's game plan to stop his teammates and let Steph cook started to crack in the fourth quarter. They started sending two guys at him and unlike the two games that Boston won where they blitzed Curry it didn't work this time because him and his teammates have adjusted to it. They don't appear to be wanting to change that plan so Steph is going to have to continue to play well. All that said I think his teammates are about to go off tonight after that last performance he just gave them all the inspiration they need. Also if the Warriors play defense these next two games they'll win in six. The games the Warriors have won they've played defense the ones they've lost the didn't it's really that simple. Boston has played defense all four games. Warriors twice.

Idk whether enough ppl realize this or not,, but Warriors approach all this time was always to mainly limit 'the others' productions while not giving too much attentions to the opponents stars. They could careless about Lebron's averaging 40+ or Jokic or Doncic averaging 30+, long as the others don't heat up, they know they get the best chance to win those games. It's basically the same with what Celtics are doing rn. It's not the craziest approach when you consider that this season Steph's been on a shooting slump generally this season. Besides, if you're playing the percentage, it's still better to give space for a 40 some percent shooter from 3, rather than letting a team dominates your paint with their layups penetrations that's almost always resulted 90% of the time with points. Be it a 2 or easy kickout where Klay/Potter/Poole/Wiggins of the world gets open somewhere to hit those 3s. Boston *wisely* chose this defensive approach to increase their chance of winning this finals. Their priority is not like Steph haters who gets mad that his stats could look this great. Totally different priorities from 2 different parties. Lol

JJ”s take was immaculate. 👌

I think their game plan is solid no one man can beat a team for a whole 7-game series especially a 6’3 pg only problem is Tatum keeps going cold

What is NBA without Curry one of the greatest of all time this guy a legend for real

Really wanna see Steph go off for 55- 60 in one of these games..then the narrative that he doesn’t perform in the finals will forever be ended.. 🤞🏼🤞🏼

First Take is lit these days

Jj analysis is amazing per usual

If they do that Draymond will be free to get others going. So it's a double edge sword.

I think Udoka made it very clear. To slow down Steph, it has to start from Boston's offense. They have got to make Curry work on defense to slow him down on offense. They did not go hard at him in game 4 at all. Also, why no physicality whatsoever on Steph? No hard foul, bumping or brusing on him at all. Look at how GSW guarded Luka. Luka came out of the game as if he's been through a battlefield. That's how a superstar should be guarded.

Game 5 Klay will be activated and if that transfers into Game 6 Klay... 👀👀

“Let’s go Warriors!” 👏👏👏

JJ is not lying the Boston bigs stepped all the way back to the free throw line and not even tried to contest Steph most of curry’s shots have been wide open off of screens

Curry is just unbelievable these finals this is a aggressive Curry which is the best version of him

Warriors will win in 7 regardless if they lose tonight. It's difficult to beat Celtics 2 in a row but I think Game 7 will be too big for them. Hard to win 3 road games in a series.

My Dubs got them in a rough spot. They have to work on focusing the spot up screens from curry and poole but Wiggins, Looney Tunes, Klay and Otto will all have EASY chances to step up, with Dray and GP2 facilitating and otto helping with keeping screens functional. Also if looney and GP2 play good defense inside the arc we win in 6

Celtics need to make him work on defense like they did in game 3 and it will help tire him out in the 4th

JJ Redick is a gift for ESPN

Jaylen Brown…love his integrity and professionalism..bravo. Wishing some of that rubs off on your fans..😉😀

The easiest choice for FMVP!!!

Udoka is betting on the possibility that Steph won't have multiple game like he did in game 4. I kinda agree with him. Warriors easily win with warriors basketball. So might as well let Steph try to beat you. It becomes a series decided by the skill of the players.

Honestly amazes me how after all these years teams still haven’t found a way to slow Curry down

When u blitz steph curry u make kd look like the mvp. JJ always forgets to say that. as well as what this defense made KD look like 1 month ago cause unlike what Stephen A says he cant pull from thirty neither has the basketball iq/playmaking nor the toughness of steph

Love JJ's analysis and specific details on what's going on. Can't wait for the game tonight

They got to defend him harder like they did kd, maybe they are afraid of his passing ability, but still put more effort

The crazy part about all this is that bostons game plans been working but Tatum has been going cold off setting the initial plan if Tatum was giving them his regular 30 points none of these games would’ve even been close let alone the warriors coming back and winning them

I think the Celtics are gonna start blitzing curry on the PNRs next game. So for the warriors to win game 5, Draymond has to step up and make good decisions off that double team. Whether he does or not will determine the outcome of the game. Also can Klay step up.

Klay needs to be there first half! The Splash brothers needs to be there to seal this series.

i mean you can see it with the amount of drop coverage they’re seeing… they just don’t want to give up easy layups if they double him

Game 5: Celtics win Game 6: Warriors win Game 7: Warriors win 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 #7 since '47.

It's basically you let Steph play 1on 1, or you double Steph and let the Warriors play 4 on 3 which Draymond, Poole, Looney and Klay thrive on those situations.

Steph Curry 🐐

Better Do Somee" 🤣 Chef With the Pot

Basically boston riding and dying with def scheme the same as Milwaukee did with their horrible defensive strategy

I am a Warriors fan and I will say, the Celtics were in control in game 4 until they fell apart. Even though the Warriors won the series in 6 games, I wanted it to go 7 game for pure entertainment. Steph Curry as Finals NBA is the right Choice

If the Celtics continue not to change their game plan, Steph might just go on and win FMVP even if the warriors lost becoming only the 2nd player to ever do so.

Love JJ analysis of the game

Kerr is out coaching the Cs coach.. the draymond benching, why are you goin under screens on Steph, Steph has been outplaying Tatum glaringly, 2-2 is crazy that G1 4thQ collapse was magical! Warriors in 6 but Cs so up and down they may score 122 tonight lol

one thing that reeks about this warriors team is all of the moving screens they get away with. with that said, they are a fabulous team

Celtics should stop playing drop coverage on Steph.

Celtics gotta stop turning the ball over

Good god JJ. Don't give Boston some tips. Bruh. JJ is really insightful! He's a great addition to this show. Mad props!

This series gon end up 4:2 for GSW

NBA MountRushmore MJ Kobe LeBron Wardell no one has been more influential than these 4 players !

Lots of warriors haters in here, i see 🤔

The Celtics have this series locked up. With their backs against the wall they hit another level. The parades in Beantown this year fellas.

I think the question is what happens if Klay gets hot? He's shot closer to 50% the last 2 games which means a breakout is coming sooner than later. He didn't miss a shot in the 4th in game 4. I think the Celtics are playing a dangerous game because the Warriors are that type of team that can erupt regardless of what you're doing defensively.

Boston's game plan for Game 5 is to take out the rest of the Warriors supporting cast and let Curry do the scoring himself.

Warriors in six sorry not sorry 🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️

Why don’t the Celtics try to run the box-and-one like the Raptors did to Curry in ‘19? If it worked so well for the Raptors against Curry in the Finals you’d think the Celtics would at least give it a shot

I don't think people paid attention to what Ime said. It doesn't matter what kind of game Steph has, they are scoring the "same" amount of points. Look at the totals through 4 games. 108, 107, 100, 107. Celtics had 120 and 116 in their wins, and 88, 97, in their losses. So he feels the defense has done its job and it's the offense that's letting them down. I don't agree that points alone are a good measure since pace and the way the game is called differs from game to game. Yet, you have to admit, in Bos' losses it seemed like their offense was the culprit.

When you give Mr. Curry an inch, he'll take a yard! BOS can't give him space, room to shoot otherwise he'll make them pay. Also, he tends to thrive off strong screens set which leaves him open to receive the ball and make shots. Boston needs to make it harder on him to play his way.

Boston can't make the right changes! They need to play grant Williams over Robert Williams 😒 i love the change Otto porter in the starting line up to open up steph

If Celtics want to win their 18th championship, they must end it in 6. They don't want a Game 7 against these guys. So they must win tonight and Thursday.

That's a Bridge to nowhere behind Stephen A. Smith

Right now Celtics is just hoping for Steph to settle on long 3 pts and that he misses them. However, it back fire as Steph has found his touch so trapping and blitzing him will allow other guys to go off while Steph is still in his zone. Celtics pretty much gamble and are paying for it now.

Man JJ is so smart curry ain’t getting 100 limit the rest the team leg curry get his he gonna get his no matter what but stop the rest the guys the Celtics can win

Celtics: All we need to do is stop Curry from going off. Game 6 Klay: 👀 Curry: 🏀🗑️💦💦

You have to apply box and one on Steph.

So far not a bad NBA FINALS 👽

Ime Udoka has no answer even if you double him Steph may not have 49 but he’ll get his. And then other players will go off if they change there defensive strategy against him

Thing is no 1 player can carry a team to a championship. LeBron tried and failed, Iverson tried and failed and Reggie tried and failed. Help must come through to finish off the series.

I don’t care what anyone says the defense they are playing is terrible on Steph and it’s going to be a wrap for the Celtics if they don’t change because Klay is just getting more comfortable and with those twp hot it’s over.

Whoever wins game 5 will win the series. This game is pivotal

Where is Max

Great players are gonna be great, try to minimize the others.

Every time Steph hits a float he tries to flex his biceps 😂😂😂

Curry aint the problem he cant win by himself. That 16 & 17 from Wiggins is what killed them.

Boston Coach is doing his job it’s the Centers 🤦‍♂️ some times they step up & sometimes they don’t, you can see players yelling at them when they don’t they just don’t listen

JJ knows what he’s talking about. Celtics needs to change their defensive plan on Steph and let the “Others” beat them

JJ knows ball

Celtics need to get steph in foul trouble. Celtics do well when steph is on the bench.

If u look at the games they are basically ignoring draymond green and his man is used to shut everyone else besides curry. hes on the passing lanes and and used to give curry some pressure but mostly every one else has some kind of coverage. There plan is to force curry to play hero ball and force draymond to do something bc he's always wide open.

i actually think they are tryin to slow everyone down but curry is actually just too good in the frame of mind he's in rightnow

If im the Celtics, who is the best defense in the league. I woulda rather have ANYONE ELSE ON THE COURT, Beat me then Stephen curry. It’s amazing what Steph is doing but it is unbelievable when you remember how good this Celtic team is defensively.

I think it's the best to let curry go off , if klay and pool start going off it's over with

Boston is 8-3 on the road and difficult to beat two in a row. In polls, GS are favored to win 60% to win Gm 5. Same percentage as Celts winning Gm 4 but didn't. Pick the underdog.

Way to Man-up and give Wiggins props!

No perk after a Loss🤔

Pressure is on Boston they got to win 2 in a row

Yes, they bring in some real NBA analysts with JJ and CJ. Finally SAS can stop screaming and talking loud over others.

So refreshing having JJ on First Take. Stephen A. speaks as if he’s a college kid trying to reach a word count on an essay. JJ brings actual substance and analysis to the debate.

The answer is No Curry always in a slump after historical game lol

MEANWHILE KD IS TWEETING AS HARD AS HE CAN TO TRY TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AROUND HIM.

Stick to the game plan he won’t drop 45 again. That’s why it’s making headlines Bec he never done it before like this in the finals