5 moments Steph Curry destroyed Bulls fans’ hopes and dreams

2. Baby Curry vs OG Rose Bulls (Jan. 18. 2010)

The core Rose, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah was the first Bulls team since Michael Jordan to make a deep playoff run. That core began to develop and gel in the 2009-2010 season, squeezing into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed.

Curry was just a rookie that year and was in and out of the lineup due to ankle injuries. There were times when he was even benched behind Cory Magette. There were also moments when Curry made it clear he should be the rookie of the year. The Warriors’ Jan. 18 game with the Bulls was one of those.

Curry erupted for 26 points, hitting his patent threes before they officially became a game plan. His ability to finish at the rim was also on display, this being the first time the league saw Curry’s overall offensive package.

The most impressive part of this performance was his ability to beat Rose off the dribble without a pick. At the time, the Warriors ran less pick and roll and had the offense flow through Monta Ellis. The Warriors beat the Bulls, in a game Chicago was the heavy favorite. That loss, among others, came to bite the Bulls because they ended up facing LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.