Steph Curry

[BobbyMac]

Magic is the best point guard ever followed closely by Stockton. Stockton played great defense, set brutal screens with his wide lower base, and shot like crazy. Stockton was one tough mofo and his all around game made him great. Magic could defend all five positions depending on the matchup, but he was an average jump shooter.

In the finals, Lebron avg 35.8ppg, 13.3rpg, and 8.8apg playing with Matthew Delbavova(sp?). Curry was 26ppg, 5.2rpg, 6.3apg. This is against quality competition and supposedly lock down defenders in Iggy and Green. It is actually quite shocking people actually think Curry is better than Lebron. Lebron also is one of the best and most versatile defenders in the league.

I'll take Zeke and Oscar first but regardless of who my starter is of those 3, I'd take Stockton to be my back up. I have huge respect for him but if he didn't have his symbiotic twin playing with him (Malone) I have to entertain the Pippin Syndrome theory and ask how good are these Robin's without their Batman's?

In regards to the most valuable player in the world. If you are redrafting the current players in the NBA today, LeBron would go first. LeBron is a combination of MJ and Pippin in the Mailman's body. I personally like watching Curry and GS play more than LBJ and the Cav's but LeBron is who he is until he retires. If they bring back the hand check tomorrow, Curry's just an All Star. I would have loved to see Zeke play in today's NBA just as I'd like to have seen Curry play in the late 80's / early 90's against the Celtics, Pistons, Bulls and Lakers

 

[Luckylucci]

What we are watching is something truly special. He's definitely become the worlds best player and like others have said, I'm not sure its even that close.

 

[Irish#1]

Top 2 Shooters All Time
1. Steph Curry
2. Police

 

[BobbyMac]

Top 2 Shooters All Time
1. Steph Curry
2. Police

False. Horrible shooters.

 

[Irish Man3]

Curry is the best shooter in the game, nothing more. There's better all around scorers, better guards, and flat just better players. I'm not trying to take anything away from what the dude does shooting the ball, but I just don't believe he's the best player in the game.

If I'm starting a franchise:

LBJ
Durant
Anthony Davis
Westbrook

 

[Irish Insanity]

Curry is the best shouter in the game, nothing more. There's better all around scorers, better guards, and flat just better players. I'm not trying to take anything away from what the dude does shooting the ball, but I just don't believe he's the best player in the game.

If I'm starting a franchise:

LBJ
Durant
Anthony Davis
Westbrook

Curry is much more than the best shooter. You're completely ignoring his ability to drive and score, and assists. I'm not sure there is a better all around scorer.

As far as your list. Here's mine in order:

Davis
Curry
Westbrook
Durant
LBJ.

 

[Luckylucci]

Curry is much more than the best shooter. You're completely ignoring his ability to drive and score, and assists. I'm not sure there is a better all around scorer.
As far as your list. Here's mine in order:

Davis
Curry
Westbrook
Durant
LBJ.

Yea, I'm not sure how one could come to another conclusion. He's insanely efficient and its not just because he makes a lot of jump shots. He scores 43.8 pts/48 minutes. That dwarfs the numbers of Durant and Cousins who are next best. They are 37.1 and 37.7 respectively. So he scores, roughly 6 more points per 48 mintues than the next closest player. That's 20% more points scored than the next best and he's doing so shooting a better percentage than both. This isn't some volume shooter who is putting up points by simply putting up a bunch of shots. Very simply put, he's the most efficient scorer in the game right now. Clearly he's proving that. To put up those type of scoring numbers and still have 6.6 assists/game, the guys is killing it. Lastly, he's doing so while winning A LOT of basketball games.

 

[irishfan]

Curry is much more than the best shooter. You're completely ignoring his ability to drive and score, and assists. I'm not sure there is a better all around scorer.

As far as your list. Here's mine in order:

Davis
Curry
Westbrook
Durant
LBJ.

Was actually just having this conversation with a couple friends about a week ago. I had:

Davis
Curry
Lebron
Durant
Westbrook

Although, I'm tempted to put Curry #1 now. He seems to be able to take a game over better than anyone else in the league. Also, was pretty conflicted regarding Lebron, Durant, and Westbrook. I really wish I could see what Durant/Westbrook looked like on separate teams. I'm keeping Lebron ahead for now, although I'll buy into the hype that he's declining if he doesn't do well in the playoffs. His jump shot is clearly broken, but he seems to be putting forth about 75% effort and still putting up good stats.

 

[KPENN]

Doesn't really have to do with Curry but I thought I'd put it here. A co-worker and I were talking about Curry and the conversation turned to Jordan today. If he didn't retire twice after 2 threepeats, how many titles does he have?

 

[Luckylucci]

Curry is the best shouter in the game, nothing more. There's better all around scorers, better guards, and flat just better players. I'm not trying to take anything away from what the dude does shooting the ball, but I just don't believe he's the best player in the game.

If I'm starting a franchise:

LBJ
Durant
Anthony Davis
Westbrook

Stats say otherwise. See above.

 

[BobbyMac]

Doesn't really have to do with Curry but I thought I'd put it here. A co-worker and I were talking about Curry and the conversation turned to Jordan today. If he didn't retire twice after 2 threepeats, how many titles does he have?

You're tempted to say 8 but Jordan's baseball experiment / self imposed ban / whatever it really was, set in motion the variables that allowed the Bulls to rebuild the second 3peat squad. Maybe the core implodes after winning 5 in a row instead of Phil and Scottie staying around in the exile years of '94 & '95 waiting for MJ to come back in '96?

Who knows?

 

[koonja]

Bigger QU to me is how many do Kobe/Shaq have if Shaq stays. Kobe has at least 7 I'd say.

 

[Irish2155]

You're tempted to say 8 but Jordan's baseball experiment / self imposed ban / whatever it really was, set in motion the variables that allowed the Bulls to rebuild the second 3peat squad. Maybe the core implodes after winning 5 in a row instead of Phil and Scottie staying around in the exile years of '94 & '95 waiting for MJ to come back in '96?

Who knows?

Could have been more than 8.... He left both 3peats open ended. Was never beat in the playoffs after winning his first championship (not counting the short '95 comeback season).

Certainly made Hakeem and Drexler happy by taking a couple years off. And Ewing still couldn't get over the hump....

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Could have been more than 8.... He left both 3peats open ended. Was never beat in the playoffs after winning his first championship (not counting the short '95 comeback season).

Certainly made Hakeem and Drexler happy by taking a couple years off. And Ewing still couldn't get over the hump....

He was also completely spent after the first three-peat. He has said himself that he needed the time off after his dad's death, etc. I don't know though...have a hard time believing that anyone would have been able to knock them off.

 

[Irish Man3]

Stats say otherwise. See above.

I stand by what I said. Kevin Durant is the best pure scorer in the game. Has been for at least five years. It just so happens that he's extremely unselfish and plays on the same team as a very selfish Russell Westbrook.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

It just so happens that he's extremely unselfish and plays on the same team as a very selfish Russell Westbrook.

Who is second in the league in assists.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Bigger QU to me is how many do Kobe/Shaq have if Shaq stays. Kobe has at least 7 I'd say.

Kobe sucks. As you can see he has no place in this conversation.

 

[BobbyMac]

Kobe sucks. As you can see he has no place in this conversation.

How can you bring yourself to say that without italics? I HATE the Lakers but he's the first 2 guard off the bench in any sane person's Dream Team.

 

[Luckylucci]

I stand by what I said. Kevin Durant is the best pure scorer in the game. Has been for at least five years. It just so happens that he's extremely unselfish and plays on the same team as a very selfish Russell Westbrook.

Except there is no stat you could post that supports that statement. Curry scores more and does so more efficiently than Durant does.

 

[BobbyMac]

Except there is no stat you could post that supports that statement. Curry scores more and does so more efficiently than Durant does.

His argument will be that Westbrook's "selfishness" or more accurately, shots per game is taking away from Durant's stats BUT.... Thompson is taking just 1.5 shots less per game than Westbrook so that's basically a wash. Also, Curry/Thompson are averaging 52.5 ppg while Durant/Westbrook are almost identical at 52.2 ppg.

The only thing I'd give to Durant normally would be end of the game shots where his 6-10 frame basically guarantees he'll get his shot off regardless of the defender but I haven't seen Curry have a problem getting a shot off with the defensive rules that are in the shooter's favor these days. Dude is as automatic as I've ever seen shot per shot, he's been in a zone since game 1 of the season.

 

[Irish Man3]

His argument will be that Westbrook's "selfishness" or more accurately, shots per game is taking away from Durant's stats BUT.... Thompson is taking just 1.5 shots less per game than Westbrook so that's basically a wash. Also, Curry/Thompson are averaging 52.5 ppg while Durant/Westbrook are almost identical at 52.2 ppg.

The only thing I'd give to Durant normally would be end of the game shots where his 6-10 frame basically guarantees he'll get his shot off regardless of the defender but I haven't seen Curry have a problem getting a shot off with the defensive rules that are in the shooter's favor these days. Dude is as automatic as I've ever seen shot per shot, he's been in a zone since game 1 of the season.

Thank you for assuming and posting my argument. I'm quite capable of handling my own argument, but thank you for your generosity.

My actual argument is that Durant is more versatile. He can score from anywhere on the court in a variety of ways. Durant has a back to the basket post game, a mid range game, an unblockable shot from behind the three point line, and the ability to take players his size off the dribble.

Curry is an amazing shooter in a system that fits his game perfectly. The team that Mark Jackson and GS assembled through the draft, is perfect for what they want to do. Curry is the best player on the best team and therefore deserves all of the accolades.

 

[BobbyMac]

Thank you for assuming and posting my argument. I'm quite capable of handling my own argument, but thank you for your generosity.

My actual argument is that Durant is more versatile. He can score from anywhere on the court in a variety of ways. Durant has a back to the basket post game, a mid range game, an unblockable shot from behind the three point line, and the ability to take players his size off the dribble.

Curry is an amazing shooter in a system that fits his game perfectly. The team that Mark Jackson and GS assembled through the draft, is perfect for what they want to do. Curry is the best player on the best team and therefore deserves all of the accolades.

Well ya should have said that the first time and no one would have responded. And btw, I would have agreed with you regarding KD being the best pure scorer in the league up until this year but he's currently lost the title.

 

[IrishLion]

It's an interesting argument when you say "Curry is the best player in the league" and someone rebuttals with "Yeah but he can only shoot!"

There isn't a right answer. It's truly an opinion thing, and it's pointless to get mad at each other, because different people value different things. Personally, I think Lucky touched on how I would feel in terms of the efficiency argument.

No, Curry can't post people up or throw down monster dunks in people's faces.... but he's so incredibly gifted as a shooter, that those things don't matter. His success as a shooter is so far ahead of everyone else, that the total talents of the next best players (KD, Westbrook, LBJ) still don't add up to equal what Curry does as a pure shooter.

 

[Green Mountains]

Per ESPN this morning....there are exactly 8 players who have averaged 30 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in a season. EVER. During the last week, Curry made more 3's than Michael Jordan made in all but 4 seasons. (Yes they have different games).

I always thought Larry Bird was the greatest shooter of all time. It's not even close now, Curry is doing things that Bird couldn't have conceived.

And Curry's team wins. It's that what its all about. They have lost 5 (five) games this year. He makes his teammates better.

To me, Curry looks a lot like Wayne Gretsky from the early '80's when he was doing things that no one else was. Gretsky didn't have the hardest shot, wasn't the best or fastest skater, and certainly wasn't the most physical. He simply did things others weren't.

Who knows how long this lasts...but let's enjoy it.

 

[BobbyMac]

Per ESPN this morning....there are exactly 8 players who have averaged 30 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in a season. EVER. During the last week, Curry made more 3's than Michael Jordan made in all but 4 seasons. (Yes they have different games).

I always thought Larry Bird was the greatest shooter of all time. It's not even close now, Curry is doing things that Bird couldn't have conceived.

And Curry's team wins. It's that what its all about. They have lost 5 (five) games this year. He makes his teammates better.

To me, Curry looks a lot like Wayne Gretsky from the early '80's when he was doing things that no one else was. Gretsky didn't have the hardest shot, wasn't the best or fastest skater, and certainly wasn't the most physical. He simply did things others weren't.

Who knows how long this lasts...but let's enjoy it.

Please. Bird was a bucket away from 30 9 and 6... as a 6-9 small forward with FOUR HOF's to share the ball with. If Larry would have been on the 80's Bulls instead of MJ he would have named his stats.

I love watching Curry but there's no Bad Boys to break him in half, no Gary Payton velcro'd to him and no MJ, Pip and Harp to terrorize him in today's Nintendo league.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Please. Bird was a bucket away from 30 9 and 6... as a 6-9 small forward with FOUR HOF's to share the ball with. If Larry would have been on the 80's Bulls instead of MJ he would have named his stats.

I love watching Curry but there's no Bad Boys to break him in half, no Gary Payton velcro'd to him and no MJ, Pip and Harp to terrorize him in today's Nintendo league.

Puh-lease. You believe Bird was a better shooter than Curry?!? Curry's career is still young but his FG% is crazy good and he would've shot well in any era.

If Curry was on the 90s Bulls instead of MJ, you think the result would've been less?

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Puh-lease. You believe Bird was a better shooter than Curry?!? Curry's career is still young but his FG% is crazy good and he would've shot well in any era.

If Curry was on the 90s Bulls instead of MJ, you think the result would've been less?

Steph only played in 26 games in 2011-2012. That year, he made 55 three pointers. Larry Bird made fewer than 55 threes four different years in which he played at least 77 games.

Bird also had 649 threes for his career (.376 percentage). Steph already has 1479 threes (.446 percentage). Bird never made 100 threes in a season...Steph has made more than 200 in four different seasons and more than 100 six times.

Totally different game, obviously, and the line has moved (though I think it has been the same for both of these guys). Just really interesting to see these numbers right next to each other.

 

[BobbyMac]

Puh-lease. You believe Bird was a better shooter than Curry?!? Curry's career is still young but his FG% is crazy good and he would've shot well in any era.

If Curry was on the 90s Bulls instead of MJ, you think the result would've been less?

Never said that. I have to say Curry is the greatest outside shooter I've ever seen based on this year alone. He's obviously the greatest 3 pt shooter ever and that's if he walks away from the game today. He doesn't have to have the all time record for me to know that.

BUT he would NOT have been this good playing back in the 80's - 90's when you could manhandle offensive players and if Steph Curry was on the 90's Bulls his % and avg. would have been less. The 80's and 90's were a complete different sport.

 

[Irish#1]

Never said that. I have to say Curry is the greatest outside shooter I've ever seen based on this year alone. He's obviously the greatest 3 pt shooter ever and that's if he walks away from the game today. He doesn't have to have the all time record for me to know that.

BUT he would NOT have been this good playing back in the 80's - 90's when you could manhandle offensive players and if Steph Curry was on the 90's Bulls his % and avg. would have been less. The 80's and 90's were a complete different sport.

Totally different game is correct. It was knock down drag out fights back then. Today's players have much more freedom on offense which is to Curry's advantage. Bird could shoot from the outside, but he also had a very good mid-range jumper. A better comparison might be Pistol Pete instead of Larry Legend.

 

[Luckylucci]

Thank you for assuming and posting my argument. I'm quite capable of handling my own argument, but thank you for your generosity.

My actual argument is that Durant is more versatile. He can score from anywhere on the court in a variety of ways. Durant has a back to the basket post game, a mid range game, an unblockable shot from behind the three point line, and the ability to take players his size off the dribble.

Curry is an amazing shooter in a system that fits his game perfectly. The team that Mark Jackson and GS assembled through the draft, is perfect for what they want to do. Curry is the best player on the best team and therefore deserves all of the accolades.

I understand all that and will agree to some extent that Durant is more versatile but that doesn't really mean anything. Curry is scoring more with less minutes. Plus doing so more efficiently.

From a very basic level, you'd like to have a player that is more versatile as they can impact the game (on the offensive end) from different levels or areas on the floor. However, that argument is basically irrelevant when talking about Curry at this time, as he's shooting the ball so well it doesn't matter how one dimensional you think he is. He's more efficient than any player we're discussing. He shoots better from the field, 3, and FT than all these guys, so Durants "versatility" is somewhat meaningless when it comes to analyzing the numbers. That versatility isn't helping him become more efficient than Curry.

If what you are saying is, the eyeball test tells me something else, then I may understand, again, to some degree but the numbers don't prove any of this.