The league missed Stephen Curry. The real Stephen Curry, who is allowed to take and make as many ridiculous shots as he wishes without worrying about other superstar teammates. The guy who could put defenders on skates before going in for a crafty layup or shooting a step-back three. When he has got it going, which is very frequent these days, Steph might actually be the most spectacular player in NBA history.
Curry, who missed most of last season due to a broken hand, is back and arguably better than ever. Golden State, whose roster is completely depleted due to injuries and the departure of Kevin Durant, once again needs monster games from its two-time MVP to stay competitive, and Steph has been surpassing all expectations this season.