Ahead of the Golden State Warriors’ matchup against the Lakers at the Crypto Arena, Stephen Curry hopped onto the BMO Stadium on Wednesday night. At the LAFC’s quarterfinal match against Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup, Curry received a rather rude reception from the crowd. As he was shown on the giant screen, the entire stadium booed at him. Curry also booed back. 24 hours apart, and the picture took a completely different turn.

In the fourth quarter, with 27-seconds remaining, and the Warriors up 120-113, Curry, who eventually finished with 37 points, was fouled and went to the free throw line for his 11th and 12th. After draining the first one, the Crypto.com arena errupted with a 3-letter chant: “MVP!” He is indeed, for the Warriors, where he helped them win four NBA title. But getting to hear that on arch-rival LeBron James’ backyard? Curry was indeed surprised, as he expressed after the game.

As important as it is to compete on the floor, Curry acknowledges that the fan rivalry is captivating, too. “I appreciate the way our fans travel… It’s in every sport. It’s a vibe for sure. You love the competitiveness on the court and in the stand,” he said. All justified in the Warriors’ backyard, but the chants in the Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers’ den, is something he hasn’t experienced frequently.

It was because of the allure of one man. And no, it is not LeBron James. Curry recalled his first few years and how Kobe Bryant’s craze consumed the Oracle. “I remember our first couple of years we used chant Beat LA in the Bay at Oracle but the Lakers fans were way louder when Kobe came in. So it’s kind of like a weird dynamic seeing one side of it and then seeing what it is now. It’s just sports, it’s fun. You embrace it all,” Curry commented at the moment. And last night, it was Curry’s moment to take back the gift the Lakers dropped then. But the Warriors did act classy when it came to respecting Kobe, didn’t they?

Back in 2020, just two weeks after the devastating helicopter crash claimed Kobe, the Lakers were back to the Warriors home arena for a game. The warriors paid their tribute with a video for Kobe. Making it even more heartfely, they covered each seat of the Chase Center with a shirt that featured three numbers- 8, 24, and 2- first two of Kobe’s and the third one of his daughter Gigi’s jersey number. Things got even more intense after a few days.

In a game at the Chase Center, the Warriors were quite far away from win, trailing almost by 30 points. But that did not stop the Chase Center crowd from Chanting out Kobe’s name loud as a mark of respect. While Kobe never got the chance to play at Chase Center, As one of the four NBA teams to play in California, these gestures represented the pinnacle of sporting spirit.

As for Curry, the chants seemed to be a reminder of how timely the baby face assasin has picked up form, as just six more games remain before the playoffs. In two games, the 36-year-old has scored 89 points, including a 50-point night against the Memphis Grizzlies. However, as vital as Curry’s contributions were tonight, Steve Kerr launched a great plan too.

Steve Kerr and his master plan

The Lakers’ defense has posed several problems to teams around the league. JJ Redick likes to play with ferocity and high energy. Closing the gaps comes with a lot of switching action. Generally, it has helped the Lakers curtail offense. But tonight, those tactics hurt them. Kerr decided to attack matchups.

In a rare instance, Stephen Curry shot 14 free throws tonight, which Kerr thinks is a “season high”. But he was more of a direct influence. What has changed the game for the Warriors is playing through him and Jimmy Butler.

“Yeah, it’s just freeing Steph up with screens… But being able to play through both Steph and Jimmy and attack switches with different guys under different circumstances was really key,” the Warriors coach added.

It was evident in how the production came. Jimmy Butler, although hobbled by injury, only produced 11 points. However, Brandin Podziemski took advantage of the switches. He went off for 28 points, hitting a season-high eight three-pointers. Jonathan Kuminga also attacked favorable matchups, getting to the line five times and scoring 18.

It goes to show how much the trade deadline has transformed the Warriors. Having Jimmy Butler has opened up great space for the remainder of the Warriors. And closer to the playoffs, these chess matches could determine a series. Having two stars that can attract the defense’s attention is a major advantage to have. Players like Podziemski and Kuminga will be in the limelight. If executed well, stunning results like tonight won’t be uncommon for the Bay.