Curry's trainer: That wasn't him in the 2016 NBA Finals

Reigning back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry has openly acknowledged that his knee wasn't at full strength during the 2015-16 NBA Finals, although he didn't use that as an excuse for his play, or the fact his Golden State Warriors blew a 3-1 series lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

His trainer, Brandon Payne, knows the Chef we all saw against Cleveland wasn't the same player who ran roughshod over the league during the regular season, thanks in large part to his injury.

"As bad as I wanted it to be him (in the Finals), it wasn't him," Payne told USA Today's Sam Amick. "We don't like to make excuses, and we're not going to make excuses because all that matters is what happens in the 48 minutes when you're on the floor. (But) I wish it was the other version of him, the version that we saw for 82 games."

Curry sprained his right knee in Game 4 of Golden State's opening-round series with the Houston Rockets, slipping on a wet spot and landing awkwardly on the hardwood. He sat Games 2 and 3 with an ankle injury, and played just 18 minutes in Game 4 before exiting. Curry then missed his next four postseason outings because of his knee.

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Over the seven-game series with the Cavaliers, the 28-year-old guard contributed 22.6 points on 40.3 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range, well below his season averages of 30.1 points, 50.4 percent from the field and a scorching 45.4 percent from deep.