Curry impact goes beyond 3-pt shot

Curry’s long-range shooting has been his calling card since he entered the NBA and that has certainly translated into what I see on high school courts, as players are no longer afraid to launch from deep.

But what gets lost in the Curry narrative is his insane ball-handling skills. To me, that, more than anything, has been even more amazing to watch and that trait has definitely seeped into the high school game, as well.

During the third-place game between Palo Alto and Sacred Heart Prep at the Burlingame Lions Club Invitational tournament last week, Palo Alto guard, Gabe Andrade, showed off some slick ball handling. Taking the ball on the wing with time running out on the shot clock, Andrade put his defender in a blender, using a slew of dribbling tricks and jab steps to shake his defender and get off a shot before the shot clock expired.

I’ll be honest — I don’t even remember if he made the shot. I was mesmerized by Andrade’s handling and couldn’t help but think of the impact Curry has had on the game of basketball in the Bay Area and beyond.

You even see it when little kids, 8 or 9 years old, take the court during timeouts or halftime and launching — and making — from the high school 3-point line. There was a time not too long ago those kids of that age had a hard time even making layup. Now, they’re draining 3s.

It’s crazy.

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Speaking of the Warriors, I think we’re seeing the last vestiges of the Golden State dynasty. Defense is non-existent — as fans saw Sunday night as the Portland Trailblazers beat the Warriors for the third straight time, 136-131. This on the heels of giving up 127 in a loss to Minnesota Friday.

Sunday was the 11th time the Warriors have given up 120 points or more in 27 games so far this season.

As things stand Monday, Golden State is in eighth place in the Western Conference, placing the Warriors smack dab in the middle of the play-in tournament, where they have been the last three seasons.

This year was supposed to be one last hurrah for the Warriors after they picked up Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat last season. When he got to Golden State, he was reinvigorated as he helped lead the Warriors to a 23-7 record with him in the lineup.

But the shine seems to have worn off and Butler appears back to his mercurial ways. Dude simply disappears too often, regardless of how much he scores or his accomplishments. I’ve never been a Butler fan. I think he’s overrated.

Not that his play is the sole reason for the Warriors’ middling season right now, that sees them a game under .500 at 13-14. Except for Curry, who has scored 39 and 48 points since his return from injury this past Friday, the rest of the team — including head coach Steve Kerr — seems lost.

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Justin Brimley, who has served as the superintendent at Crystal Springs Golf Course for the last six years, last month was named the Natural Resource Conservation Award winner by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America as part of the group’s Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards, after twice being named runner-up the previous two years.

“The awards have recognized superintendents and golf courses around the world for their commitment to environmental stewardship since 1993,” the organization said in a press release.

In addition to Brimley’s effort to maintain the Burlingame course’s Audubon Sanctuary Program and Habitat Control certification that Crystal Springs has maintained since 1998, he has also included the use of technology when it comes to water use on the course and creating more native areas that use less water.

In addition, Brimley has created 20 more acres of “habitat corridors.”

This is the second time Brimley has earned ELGA award, being named the winner of the Healthy Land Stewardship award in 2022 after finishing second in 2015.

Nathan Mollat has been covering high school sports in San Mateo County for the San Mateo Daily Journal. since 2001. He can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com.