Volume 5: Unrivaled

Meanwhile, the other Rockets players had also weathered the natural slump in form, their shooting touch returned, and they began knocking down threes. Houston's offensive efficiency finally returned to the level expected of an elite team. But Curry gave them no such opportunity. His third-quarter explosion was not the climax—it was only the beginning. Yet by the end of the third quarter, the situation had been completely reversed. Yes, Curry was the god among active players. Even looking across the entire history of the NBA, only Jordan could firmly rank above him. Other legendary superstars either suffered from the limitations of their eras, leaving the value of their accolades somewhat lacking, or never achieved the dominance of Curry's five championships in six years. They could only rank slightly behind him. Before that, however, the Rockets had attempted thirty three-pointers without making a single one. After Harden finally hit one, Mike Breen joked, "If Harden can replicate—or even surpass—Curry's godlike third-quarter performance in the even more crucial fourth quarter, his reputation and standing will rise directly to another level. He'll truly enter the ranks of historic superstars. Even without a championship or an MVP, he'll surely leave a bold mark in NBA history." Great anticipation rose in their hearts. They could already picture Harden, like Curry in the third quarter, slaughtering everyone in his path, sweeping aside all opponents with his trademark step-back threes, erasing the deficit, perhaps even completing the comeback and earning the glorious reputation of a dragon slayer! "Are the Rockets paying tribute to Curry? They've created a brand-new—and humiliating—historical record, becoming the team with the most consecutive missed threes in NBA playoff history. And this record could not have come at a worse time. It may send an entire season of the Rockets' hard work down the