As I write this, the Golden State Warriors basketball team prepares for the start of the Western Division finals against Oklahoma City.
To get to OKC they had to go through the juggernaut called Portland. Even though the Warriors beat Portland 4 games to 1, it wasn’t that convincing. In reality, the series was super-duper close…too close if you’re a Warriors fan (as I am).
So close the Warriors were behind going into the fourth and last quarter of each of the last four games.
Yet, they won the series 4 games to 1.
The difference was…no surprise…Steph Curry, the league MVP for the second year in a row. While Curry has been All-World all year, his contribution during the Portland series was never a given. He was hurt and did not play in the first three games.
He hadn’t played a competitive game in two weeks. He was rusty. His knee still hurt. And he didn’t start off Game 5 in a very convincing, confidence-building way. He looked like he was exhausted, and it appeared Game 5 wouldn’t be his night to shine.
And then he lit it up. When he was most needed. When the fourth quarter came around, Curry came around. He rose to the occasion, and did what needed to be done.
Who is your team MVP? Who arises to the occasion no matter what the circumstances, when things are tough or downright gloomy?
Who pulls victory out of the clutching arms of defeat?
And are you giving them the support they need to go beyond the situation?
Who’s your Steph Curry?