OTHER DROP DOWN

Curry set for his NBA Finals moment against LeBron, Cavs

Jun 3, 2015, 4:00 PM

Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson, right, drives the ball behind Stephen Curry (30) during...

Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson, right, drives the ball behind Stephen Curry (30) during NBA basketball practice, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Oakland, Calif. The Warriors host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

(AP Photo/Ben Margot)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry was early in his career, a long way from even thinking about the NBA Finals.

His Golden State Warriors were in Cleveland, where LeBron James powered one of the best teams in the league. Curry thinks the Warriors lost the game (they did, one of their 56 losses his rookie season) but certainly remembers the chat.

James, already the best player in the game, pulled Curry aside leaving the court and told him to focus on his own effort, ignore any distractions around him, make sure he was always prepared.

“There is going to be a time when it’s all going to work out because you’ll be ready for that moment,” Curry said Wednesday of James’ message.

And now, it might happen against James.

The next chat between the superstars could be Thursday night at center court, before Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Curry is now the NBA’s MVP and the Warriors, no longer the lowly laughingstock from his rookie season, won a league-best 67 games during the regular season. They have lost three times at Oracle Arena all season, but that doesn’t faze James as he tries to end Cleveland’s 51-year pro sports title drought in his first season back there.

“I’ve been in so many loud arenas. This is going to be one of them,” he said. “I’ve played in OKC in the (2012) finals to start off the series. I’ve played in Boston. I’ve played in Detroit when they were in their heyday. I’ve played in Chicago in 2011 to open up the Eastern Conference finals. I’ve played in San Antonio.

“So I’ve been in some very loud buildings and this, obviously, I know tomorrow is going to be one of them. But I don’t add too much pressure on it. You just go out and you just try to play.”

He has done that superbly in this postseason, averaging 27.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists in the Eastern Conference playoffs. He has played better basketball — he brought up the 2009 East finals loss against Orlando, a month before Curry was drafted — but the steady hand he has provided with Kevin Love out and Kyrie Irving hurting has made James as good as he’s ever been.

“For me as leader of the team, it’s my job to lead the guys and to perform well,” James said. “At the end of the day, win, lose or draw, that’s all I can ask out of myself and ask out of my guys, and we’ll do that.”

His finals experience — he’s the first to play in five straight finals since Bill Russell’s Celtics of the 1960s — is one advantage for the Cavs against a Warriors team with no players who have played for the championship. Warriors rookie coach Steve Kerr, who won five titles as a player, says he and assistant Luke Walton have talked to the team about what to expect now.

“But what I really found as a player was once you get out on the floor, you just start playing and everything returns to normal,” Kerr said. “It’s still just a basketball game. But you’ve got to get to that point and the best way to do that is to try to ignore the chaos as much as you can.”

For Curry, keeping things normal Wednesday meant a haircut and some sun by his pool. And he knows James will be prepared, just as he once instructed Curry.

“He’s a gamer,” Curry said. “You know he’s going to ready for big moments.”

Other things to watch in the NBA Finals:

KYRIE’S CONDITION: Irving, who missed two games in the East finals with knee and foot injuries, plans to play, while realizing he won’t be at his best.

“It’s an adjustment, but it’s what it is at this point,” he said. “But I’m just going to go out there and will myself to play.”

CLEVELAND CONNECTION: Kerr played 3 1/2 seasons in Cleveland and will try to join Phil Jackson, whose Lakers beat the Nets in 2002, as the only coaches to beat a team they played for in the finals. He understands why it hasn’t been a desired destination for players, saying “let’s face it, it’s cold,” but said he enjoyed the experience.

“I used to go to Indians games and Browns games, and you felt the passion of the sports community there,” he said. “The fans loved all their teams. So I’m really happy for the city of Cleveland, for them to be in the finals.”

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: Though also in his first year as an NBA coach, David Blatt has reminded reporters all season that he’s no rookie after his long, successful career overseas. The coach of 2014 Euroleague champion Maccabi Tel Aviv repeated that message Wednesday, saying he didn’t “find this at all imposing.”

“So it’s thrilling and it’s exciting, and it’s joyful to be in this situation,” he added. “Is it all unusual or uncomfortable for me? No. I’ve been in situations like this before many times.”

KLAY’S OK: Klay Thompson wasn’t cleared to play until Tuesday after suffering a concussion in Game 5 of the West finals, but never feared missing the opener.

“I had some nagging headaches that night, but when I got some good sleep and some good rest I was all right,” he said. “So I really knew that Game 1 was never in jeopardy.”

___

Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Other Drop Down

FILE – In this July 25, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speak...

Arizona Sports

Trump hosts Women’s British Open as Park resumes slam quest

Inbee Park resuming her quest for the career Grand Slam. Teenage prodigy Lydia Ko seeking that elusive first major. Michelle Wie going for victory with an injured left foot.

9 years ago

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, right, motions to Democratic Reps., from left: Peter Barca; ...

Arizona Sports

Wisconsin Assembly approves Milwaukee Bucks arena deal

The Wisconsin state Assembly voted Tuesday to spend $250 million in public funds on a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks, a deal that both Republicans and Democrats lauded as good for the state and city.

9 years ago

FILE-In this Nov. 13, 2014 file photo former PGA golfer Charlie Sifford sits in the dining room in ...

Arizona Sports

Family of late black golf great accused of $1 million theft

The son and ex-daughter-in-law of late black golf pioneer Charlie Sifford were indicted Tuesday on charges they stole more than $1 million from him.

9 years ago

Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the 18th hole during a practice round for the Quicken Loans Nat...

Arizona Sports

Michelle Wie limps into her next major

that matched her best result of the year -- she developed a bone spur in her left foot that she attributed to the hilly terrain of Lancaster Country Club.

9 years ago

Lexi Thompson holds the trophy after winning the Meijer LPGA Classic golf tournament Sunday, July 2...

Arizona Sports

Golf’s youth movement means 30 is the new 20

a major -- from an otherwise remarkable record. Ko had never missed the cut in her career until that week at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. A month later, she was never in contention at the U.S. Women's Open.

9 years ago

Tiger Woods smiles as he answers a question during a news conference prior to the start of the Quic...

Arizona Sports

Tiger Woods running out of chances to salvage season

Tiger Woods knows he's played poorly over the past two years. Now, he's facing the prospect of an early end to his season.

9 years ago

Curry set for his NBA Finals moment against LeBron, Cavs