Max Christie’s bold Stephen Curry tackle ahead of Warriors Christmas Clash

LOS ANGELES – Coming into the Los Angeles Lakers’ Christmas Day showdown against the Golden State Warriors, Max Christie knows the task of chasing Stephen Curry around for 48 minutes will likely fall to him.

It’s not like he isn’t used for that type of challenge though. In the past month alone, Christie has drawn several tough defensive assignments, including Trae Young, Ja Morant and Cade Cunningham. Curry is just next. But there is a catch.

After the Lakers’ loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday, Max Christie heaped praise on Stephen Curry ahead of their Christmas game against the Warriors.

“At Christmas I got Steph Curry, so it’s a big challenge I’m willing to take on. And for me, I just have to prepare at the elite level. And I think I tend to do that for all these games. For me, it’s just staying consistent with my routine of taking care of my body, hydrating a lot, eating right, getting enough sleep,” Christie said.

“Doing all the little things because they’ll add up and I think hopefully they’ll benefit me at Christmas when I’m guarding a top-ten player of all time,” Christie continued. “I’m excited for the opportunity. You don’t get that much, so I’m looking forward to it.”

It’s entirely possible that Stephen Curry has the resume of a top-ten player of all time. But either way, it will be a tough challenge for Christie and will go a long way toward a possible Lakers win or not.

Max Christie’s defensive effect

One of the main areas of growth for Christie this season has been on the defensive end. One of his highlights in that regard came on December 6 against the Atlanta Hawks. Although the Lakers lost that game, Christie came up with a huge block on Trae Young that sent the game to overtime.

A few games later on December 15th, Christie chased and chased Ja Morant to 6-of-21 shooting in a Lakers win. Then on Monday, against the Pistons, Christie was matched up against Cade Cunningham, who is having an All-Star caliber season.

Even though the Pistons and Cunningham, who finished with 20 points, five rebounds and ten assists, got the better of the Lakers, Christie enjoyed the game. Christie dropped a career high 17 points, but noted how it’s on the defensive end where he measures his success.

“I think I did a solid job tonight. My primary matchup was Cade Cunningham. He’s an elite player, playing at an all-star level,” Christie said. “He still ended up with 20, ten and five, but I thought , I did a good job just trying to make it difficult for him. He’s a great player, he’s going to make tough shots. But overall, I think I’m in a pretty good place right now.”

One player who has certainly noticed the impact Christie has brought to the team is Austin Reaves. Since Christie entered the starting lineup, Reaves has transitioned to full-time point guard duties. Reaves also hasn’t had to chase as many tough defensive tackles as he has in recent seasons.

The main thing that stands out to Reaves about his backcourt partner is Christie’s willingness to matchup defensively.

“I think he’s been really, really good for us over the last couple of weeks. He’s stepped into that role and embraced it, and he’s had really good games defensively and offensively,” Reaves said after the Pistons’ game. “I think he’s become a better player since the day he came here. Every day he asks questions, wants to learn. He’s a really good kid and a really good basketball player as well.”