The inability to shake the defense of Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love in 2016 is something that continues to haunt Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry.
However, Curry’s belief that he easily could have gotten past Love brought a dry response from Love himself.
Easily. https://t.co/xSoClgDjVo
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) June 4, 2019
The play in question came in the final minute of Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals and just after Kyrie Irving hit what would be a game-winning 3-pointer for the Cavaliers. Curry’s desperate attempt to get away from Love’s tenacious defense resulted in a 3-point attempt that failed miserably.
Prior to that play, Love’s defensive skills had been a regular source of criticism. However, at the Cavs’ championship celebration three days after winning the title, then-Cavaliers general manager David Griffin dubbed the play simply as the “Stop.”
The championship was the first in Cavaliers history and marked a historic comeback by the team. They became the first team ever in league history to bounce back from a 3-1 deficit in the finals.
Following that championship, the two teams met in each of the next two finals, with Golden State winning both times. The departure of LeBron James in free agency last year ended the Cavaliers’ string of conference championships. In contrast, the Warriors are in their fifth straight finals and are currently deadlocked at one game apiece against the Toronto Raptors.