NBA: Warrior godfather.

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Curry found Hickson, took a big step back with a double behind-the-back dribble, raised his hand, and nailed an ultra-long three-pointer, silencing the roaring Quicken Loans Center.

After scoring, Curry bit his mouthguard and jumped back to the Warriors' half. He wasn't as physically dominant as James, but he made the entire crowd fall silent.

Liam Gonzalez smiled with satisfaction—his years of hard work had not been in vain.

In his previous life, Curry hadn't mastered the step-back three in the early years of his career. His ability to handle physical confrontations was mediocre, and his ball-handling skills were limited.

But now, under Liam's guidance, Curry had been on the right track since his rookie year. His goal was to improve his ability to handle contact, hone his skills, and develop ultra-long-range and step-back three-point shooting.

Over three years in college, his strength had already surpassed the level he'd reached during his rookie days.

After training under Brandon Payne, Curry's ability to handle physicality improved significantly, and his techniques matured further.

Especially in the realm of three-pointers, Liam and Payne had carefully crafted Curry's step-back three-point shooting regimen.

Liam had bluntly told Curry that the step-back three would become his most important offensive weapon.

For a player like Curry, who has the size of a point guard, pull-up jumpers weren't threatening enough. Only the step-back three could significantly elevate his scoring efficiency at a low cost.

This insight came from Liam's inspiration drawn from James Harden in his previous life.

Harden had managed to average an astounding 36.1 points per game in a single season, largely thanks to his unlimited one-on-one plays fueled by step-back threes.

So, over the summer, while maintaining his standard three-point drills, Curry worked tirelessly on his step-back shooting.

Although it had only been a short time and wasn't yet flawless, he had become extremely proficient in the skill. Combined with his movement and ball-handling abilities, he was now a significant offensive threat.

After Curry's long-range triple, James immediately responded with his signature tank-like drive to the basket, scoring effortlessly.

James's move wasn't just a layup—the basketball in his hands looked like a massive marble as he gently placed it into the hoop. Had Biedrins not contested, it would have been a thunderous dunk.

On the next possession, Curry ran a pick-and-roll with Biedrins at the left 45-degree mark beyond the arc while the other Warriors provided weak-side screens.

From the sidelines, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown waved his hands and shouted:

"Stay tight! Delay him! Don't give number 30 any space to shoot!"

Hickson followed Brown's orders strictly, lunging forward with hands raised to block Curry's view before recovering behind Biedrins as Monta Ellis cut through the screen.

The Warriors couldn't make the pick-and-roll work, but Azubuike, on the weak side, exploited an opening.

First, he moved inside, setting a cross-screen with Matthews to disrupt the Cavaliers' defense. Then he cut back to the interior.

Curry passed him the ball with precision, and Azubuike took three strides to slam it home easily.

Mike Brown shook his head in frustration. While the Cavaliers' offense wasn't problematic, their defense had too many gaps, suffering from weak coordination and a lack of a cohesive system.

After this play, the direct duel between Curry and James simmered down.

James kept attacking the basket with determination, dominating possessions for the Cavaliers in the second quarter. Monta Ellis managed to slip through occasionally, but James was relentlessly effective near the rim.

The Warriors, on the other hand, played a more balanced game. Curry took fewer shots, distributing the ball to teammates who capitalized on Monta Ellis and Jamison's sharp scoring bursts.

By halftime, the Warriors trailed the Cavaliers 62–64, entering the break with only a two-point deficit.

Liam Gonzalez was pleased with the score. Keeping up with James while he was in scoring mode was a victory in itself for the Warriors.

In the cramped visitor's locker room, Liam addressed his players with clear tactics:

"You all did great in the first half. We're facing the top team in the league, and we're holding our own. Stay strong for 24 more minutes, and we have a great chance to win. Keep playing like this, but we need to tighten our defense: collapse the interior and double-team James! Don't give him any room to operate. Let the rest of the Cavaliers try to beat us, but don't let James dominate the paint. Understood?"

"Understood!" the team roared, their voices echoing like thunder.

The fierce battle of the first half gave them confidence. The Cavaliers were beatable—so what if James was the "King"? While they couldn't completely stop him, the Cavaliers couldn't stop them either.

In the Cavaliers' locker room, Mike Brown's strategy was straightforward:

"Keep feeding the ball to LeBron in the second half. LeBron, decide whether to pass or shoot based on the situation. You have unlimited shooting rights. Defensively, focus on Curry. Stay sharp!"

"Coach, let me guard Curry," James interjected.

Without hesitation, Mike Brown nodded.

"Of course. Curry is yours."

Whenever James voiced his opinions, Brown adopted them without question—it was his way of maintaining his position as head coach in Cleveland.

Critics often accused Brown of having a one-dimensional strategy of relying on James, but Brown ignored them.

When you have LeBron James, it's hard not to lean on him. His versatility was rare in NBA history.

Aside from long-range shooting, James could do it all—scoring, playmaking, defense, help defense. He could solve most of a team's problems, even tactical ones.

As head coach, all you had to do was hand the ball to James and play your part on the sidelines.

Halftime ended quickly, and both teams' starting lineups returned to the court for the second half.

The Warriors had possession. Curry brought the ball up and found James standing in front of him.

The ESPN commentator exclaimed:

"The Cavaliers have switched matchups and assigned James to guard Curry. The size difference between them is huge—this should be interesting."

The Movistar analyst added:

"This is a smart move. James is one of the best defenders in the league. His defensive capabilities are well-known, and as the Cavaliers' top defender, he's a great choice to contain Curry."

Facing James, Curry remained calm, immediately calling for Biedrins to set a screen.

No matter who was guarding him, Curry knew his targets: O'Neal and Jamison.

Biedrins moved to the top of the arc and screened James to Curry's right. James, however, powered through the screen, keeping pace with Curry and avoiding a switch.

Frustrated, Curry tried another pick-and-roll with Biedrins, but James anticipated it perfectly.

Curry glanced at the shot clock and saw little time left. He signaled for his teammates to clear out—he would take James one-on-one.

James welcomed the challenge, spreading his arms wide, his strong frame intimidating. His cold eyes contrasted sharply with Curry's composed demeanor.

A courtside photographer snapped a picture of the moment, capturing what would become an iconic image of the game.

With seven seconds on the shot clock, Curry began his move. He shuffled his feet, using crossovers and body shifts to unsettle James.

But James didn't bite, staying firm like a rock. He mirrored Curry's movements, showing his defensive prowess.

Finally, Curry made his play. With a quick behind-the-back dribble and a large step-back to the right, he created just enough space to shoot.

James reacted instantly, lunging forward with both hands raised. But Curry's release was lightning-fast, and the ball sailed over James's outstretched fingers, tracing a perfect arc before swishing through the net.

The Cavaliers' fans, who had been chanting "defense," fell silent.

Curry's response was understated. He patted his chest and pointed to the sky, drawing everyone's attention as his stats appeared on the big screen: 20 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal.

James glanced at the scoreboard, irritated. This game wasn't supposed to be Curry's statement—it was his.

He couldn't let Curry steal the spotlight. The battle was far from over.

End of this chapter

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