Better Dribbles / Handles: Steph Curry or Jamal Crawford

[TK Smart]

I like the break down of this being high dribble vs low dribble debate.


I prefer the Curry/Irving low dribble style as I just think it's more efficient at getting you from point A to point B on the court and keeping your dribble active so I'm leaning Curry here.

Crawford's high dribble style certainly looked sexier getting from A to B and you weren't stripping him. But I do think that high dribble made it easier to get him to pick up his dribble a bit more than Curry's low dribble. I think the low dribble does just make it easier to comfortably penetrate crowded areas. I also think alot of the high dribble stuff maybe slightly throws off your ability to shoot off the bounce more than the low dribble.

Like Crawford did do a lot of shake you off pull ups. But is anybody looking at Curry's feet and shot motion after his version of that same action and thinking it's not just a lot cleaner? I could see the argument that this isn't handling and Curry just has better shooting mechanics but you definitely have to set that up with your handle.

[ChuckChilly]

Jamal has the ball on a yo-yo just as much as someone like Kyrie (maybe more). He’s in the argument for most skilled ball-handler ever.

Curry doesn’t have as tight of a handle or as many tricks as Jamal (still talking about in the top 5 ever convo though), but his handle combined with his elite footwork, awareness, and ability to take any type of shot on the court with either hand basically makes his handle the most functional and result driven handle ever.

So the answer is Crawford IMO. He just doesn’t have all the other skills Curry has to make the handle un-guardable.

I can comfortably say that Kyrie has the best handle ever, he's like water on the court. Crawford is a beast as well, but unlike Kyrie, I think his handle could be imitated by other players if they didn't have fear of being yanked out the game immediately.

I voted for Curry because his handle seems more practical and can be used in open and tight spaces, where as Crawford handle was mostly deadly in one on one scenarios or open courts.

[LockoutSeason]

Curry’s handles will be criminally underrated due to him being the GOAT shooter. All of his other attributes will be downplayed. Jamal Crawford’s only elite skill are his handles so most will assume they are better.

Steph’s handles are what distinguish him from his dad and brother, not shooting ability.

[JRoy]

Depends if we're talking style or substance.
Jamal had some incredible right to left, left to right moves, was inventive, could stack some incredible dribble combos.
vs.
Steph Curry has a tighter handle and is much better at using the dribble to where he wants to move on the basketball court.

We fixate on the moves guys use to initiate a drive (hesi cross, for example), but then what happens when they're in the lane? If you're Crawford, you have to get to the bucket or pull up. If you're Curry, you can keep your dribble alive, probe, look at passing angles, pull your dribble back out of the paint, etc. That's where the handle gets tough, because there are multiple larger defenders all trying to disrupt and bump you. That's where your handle is stress tested the most, but fans are obsessed with the initial dribble combinations.

If it's about flash, I think Jamal Crawford is right up there with Kyrie.
If it's about functional handle, Curry is right up there with Nash and Paul. Those guys, despite having very little physical advantage, could use the dribble to go wherever they wanted in ways guys like Crawford/Kyrie can not.

Great summary.