Around the NBA - Blazing into the Conference Finals

[thebuzzardman]

curry is not a top 3 all time player. that’s not up for debate.

Curry's definitely top 5 all time for me. Never seen a player collapse the defense and be as dominant since prime Shaq.

MJ and then Curry, Kareem, LeBron and Magic, in no particular order.

He might be, but once you crack top 10 or top 8, it's really hard to differentiate, to the point of being pointless, to me.

Assuming you disregard era, which is another whole debate. I assume great players from the past would avail themselves of current nutrition/conditioning etc and be great in any era, but it's reasonable to guess that there are players whose athleticism wouldn't proportionately change in a modern setting - but it's an unknown.

But besides that, so many great great players - not in any order, but you have Wilt, Jordan, Jabbar, Magic, Bird, LeBron, Shaq, Russell, Kobe, Oscar Robinson, Tim Duncan - Curry deserves to be in among those players but where? I personally have no idea.
I mean, even if he's last, that's top 12, in a league that's been around how many years? 60?

And that's leaving off Erving, Hondo Havlicek, Elgin Baylor, Pippen, Barkley - also great players, but aside from two way greats like Pippen or Hondo, Curry's great play AND innovation of deep shooting put him ahead of them, but great offensive and defensive players like Pippen, for instance? A little harder, but still edge Curry. I'm just including these great players to illustrate how many great players there were and I've left off some.

[thebuzzardman]

GS with KD is like a cheat code.

They are obviously still a great team even without him

Yeah - this year the chemistry seems a little wonky with him but I didn't forget about the other years either.

I do enjoy them more with Curry as the lead but it's because they seem possibly beatable.

And when KD isn't playing, it just becomes a different style of basketball which is very entertaining to watch. It seems to me like the ball/player movement picks up another notch or two. And Draymond running around all over the court making plays has just got to motivate the other players. Dude never gives up. Gotta love that.

And just like that, without intending it, and in all innocence, Wingo started the "Durant Iso's like Melo" RealGM Knicks meme.

[Chanel Bomber]

curry is not a top 3 all time player. that’s not up for debate.

Curry's definitely top 5 all time for me. Never seen a player collapse the defense and be as dominant since prime Shaq.

MJ and then Curry, Kareem, LeBron and Magic, in no particular order.

He might be, but once you crack top 10 or top 8, it's really hard to differentiate, to the point of being pointless, to me.

Assuming you disregard era, which is another whole debate. I assume great players from the past would avail themselves of current nutrition/conditioning etc and be great in any era, but it's reasonable to guess that there are players whose athleticism wouldn't proportionately change in a modern setting - but it's an unknown.

But besides that, so many great great players - not in any order, but you have Wilt, Jordan, Jabbar, Magic, Bird, LeBron, Shaq, Russell, Kobe, Oscar Robinson, Tim Duncan - Curry deserves to be in among those players but where? I personally have no idea.
I mean, even if he's last, that's top 12, in a league that's been around how many years? 60?

And that's leaving off Erving, Hondo Havlicek, Elgin Baylor, Pippen, Barkley - also great players, but aside from two way greats like Pippen or Hondo, Curry's great play AND innovation of deep shooting put him ahead of them, but great offensive and defensive players like Pippen, for instance? A little harder, but still edge Curry. I'm just including these great players to illustrate how many great players there were and I've left off some.

I agree, the game has changed so much over the years that you're speculating either way.

The thing I look at is a combination of a player's impact on winning (which transcends era) and skill level (which favors the modern NBA). I think Curry ticks both boxes at the highest level. But you're right you can make the argument for many players. It also depends on how you value prime vs longevity. Shaq would have a case for GOAT if we were only comparing primes. It's a never-ending debate, sometimes an interesting one, but too often impacted by people's (and our own) agendas.

[robillionaire]

I can’t include curry amongst the greats until he wins at least 1 finals mvp

[thebuzzardman]

I can’t include curry amongst the greats until he wins at least 1 finals mvp

Maybe. But that team is so balanced and he should be recognized for his team play while also being capable of taking over, but not trying to do it each and every game.

[dakomish23]

Which one or two people said that? Because it can't be too many people who thought the core of a 73 win team wasn't good.

I should have been specific. Not on the board. I have friends who were trashing Klay when they lost the two games in HOU. I kept saying “you forgot he was the #2 on a championship team that won 73 games rhebnext year”. They, like many NBA fans, are prisoners of the moment.

Wow, I had no idea that people were dissing the other Warriors because of KD's presence. That's crazy.

Sarcasm? Can’t tell without the green font

[HarthorneWingo]

I should have been specific. Not on the board. I have friends who were trashing Klay when they lost the two games in HOU. I kept saying “you forgot he was the #2 on a championship team that won 73 games rhebnext year”. They, like many NBA fans, are prisoners of the moment.

Wow, I had no idea that people were dissing the other Warriors because of KD's presence. That's crazy.

Sarcasm? Can’t tell without the green font

No green font. I can't be expected to know EVERYTHING.

[HarthorneWingo]

Yeah - this year the chemistry seems a little wonky with him but I didn't forget about the other years either.

I do enjoy them more with Curry as the lead but it's because they seem possibly beatable.

And when KD isn't playing, it just becomes a different style of basketball which is very entertaining to watch. It seems to me like the ball/player movement picks up another notch or two. And Draymond running around all over the court making plays has just got to motivate the other players. Dude never gives up. Gotta love that.

And just like that, without intending it, and in all innocence, Wingo started the "Durant Iso's like Melo" RealGM Knicks meme.

[Chanel Bomber]

I can’t include curry amongst the greats until he wins at least 1 finals mvp

He should've won in 2015. It's a travesty that he didn't.

26 ppg on .585 TS%, 5.2 rpg and 6.3 apg while being trapped at halfcourt getting his teammates wide open shots with the hockey assists. People acting like he played like a scrub.

By comparison, Dirk also averaged 26 ppg on .537 TS% with 9.7 rpg and 2 apg in the 2011 Finals.

[Thugger HBC]

Raptors playing well out there since Kawhi isn't on the floor.

[HarthorneWingo]

I don't think that was a walk

[HarthorneWingo]

Love left-handed reverse by Middleton.

[HarthorneWingo]

Max out Brogdan

[god shammgod]

giannis with 6 points and the bucks only down 3

[robillionaire]

I can’t include curry amongst the greats until he wins at least 1 finals mvp

He should've won in 2015. It's a travesty that he didn't.

26 ppg on .585 TS%, 5.2 rpg and 6.3 apg while being trapped at halfcourt getting his teammates wide open shots with the hockey assists. People acting like he played like a scrub.

By comparison, Dirk also averaged 26 ppg on .537 TS% with 9.7 rpg and 2 apg in the 2011 Finals.

I don’t necessarily disagree with your analysis, he probably should have won it but alas he didn’t so I’m still holding out on putting him in that upper echelon. I guess I put him in the category of 3 ring no finals mvp Kobe before he won in 2009 and 2010 and got his 2 finals mvps. But maybe this is the year

[Phish Tank]

too many wide open misses for Milwaukee. Have to make them.

[knicks94]

I really hope the Knicks do not commit a dumb mistake like signing Middleton.

[Clyde_Style]

oh my goodness, choking on the foul line. Bucks are going to take a three to win it

[HarthorneWingo]

Chris Webber is horrible

[robillionaire]

Chris Webber is horrible

Can’t stand his commentary. He’s even worse on nba2k