Which player would you rather have for the playoffs? Fully Healthy Stephen Curry or Giannis

[Pennebaker]

No one has any idea of what Giannis will do in the playoffs. He's unproven. Steph has rings. Etc. Curry is the safe pick.

[michaelm]

This is exactly it. If Giannis has two regulars hitting them at a sub 16% clip while a player on the other team hits a high volume at an 87% clip Giannis is in trouble. Then again pretty much any player in the league is in trouble.

I don't think people properly appreciate the buzz saw that the Bucks saw in games 3-6 last season. It wasn't Kawhi man handled Giannis. It was more Fred Van Vleet crushed, tombstoned and defecated on Bledsoe and Nikola Mirotic's grave. Any one of those three players play more to their career averages and it is a completely different series. Hell that series led to Mirotic looking like he was getting a 3 year/$45 million deal to out of the rotation/league.

Apply the same argument in regard to Harrison Barnes and Curry would have 4 more titles than Giannis as it stands just now.

Apply the same argument to one player. Players have terrible series. It took multiple players having historically crappy shooting spells on one team compounded by one of the most historic multi game heaters on the other team.

We are not talking one player being off. We are talking 3 players having wtf is happening performances for the Raptors to win.

It happened. The Raptors were better in that series.

Also Harrison Barnes shot 9-29 from 3 in the series they lost. That is 30% They won the other series. He was gone the next year. Replaced by Kevin Durant. Hell he only spent 4 seasons in GS. Winning a title. How would steph have won 4 more if Harrison Barnes didn’t choke shooting only 30%?

I am always happy to award the title to the team that actually won the title, including the 2016 title. My point was that applying your argument without agreeing with it Curry/GSW would have won 4 titles at this point in time, one more title rather than 4 more titles, but 4 more than Giannis has currentLy ie zero titles.

Do you think it is vaguely possible those Bucks players were down because of excellent defence by the Raptors ?, a great defensive team. Barnes mostly missed open shots btw, and the Cavs didn’t even bother defending him in the end, allowing LeBron to focus on Curry in a free safety role. He couldn’t score on 2 point shots either also btw, by my addition he was 5-32 overall in the last 3 games that the Cavs won to clinch the title.

It is what it is. If ifs and buts were crackers and nuts every day would be Christmas as they say. Curry can’t overcome poor shooting by the target of his outlet passing when double or triple teamed, Giannis can’t take up the shooting deficit if his shooters are well defended or cold. And while Giannis is an excellent passer for a guy his height he isn’t as good a passer or playmaker as Curry.

[michaelm]

Ummmm because he is the most dominant offensive and defensive player in the game today?

Most dominant offensive player? Based on the regular season? We're looking at the playoffs.

Fact is he keeps getting shut down in the 4th quarter of playoff games. I had this same argument before last season's playoffs and this time was supposed to be different. "New coach, MVP level now, better team". Conference Finals pass and... yeah.

Blaming the shooters doesn't discount the fact he has an inherent weakness to his game that limits him in key moments against good teams. The "most dominant"-anything isn't blaming anyone for coming up short in the aspect of the game that they're responsible for.

What as a 24 year old still learning the game he did have a bad series against the raptors. But play that same defense this year see if you get the same results I am betting against it just on Giannis improvement and experience. And our coaching staff to counter it by using Giannis size by posting him up with Leonard on him not him dribbling from up top. And also posting up Lopez brothers we have way more size this year. Giannis is the better player now.

This may well be the case. However it hasn’t happened yet so it can’t just be assumed to have already occurred.

[JN61]

Giannis. We saw Curry this year and it wasn't pretty.

yes, because a whopping 5 total games is really a great sample size.

If goal is to win championship and these two players are only options as best players in their team I think I have better chances to win with Giannis. Especially with drop Curry have had in his game.

[TOStateofMind]

Healthy Steph.

[Triples333]

Giannis. We saw Curry this year and it wasn't pretty.

yes, because a whopping 5 total games is really a great sample size.

If goal is to win championship and these two players are only options as best players in their team I think I have better chances to win with Giannis. Especially with drop Curry have had in his game.

In last seasons playoffs Curry just led them to another Finals appearance on 28/6/6 - 32/6/6 after KD went down (47/8/7 in the Finals game Klay also missed) - outplaying the other top All NBA guards (Harden/Lillard) en route. Drop? Lol.

[Dupp]

Giannis can do more with less. If the teams stacked sure I’ll take Steph. If it’s normal or crap gimme the freak.

[LKN]

This thread is full of people who don't care about defense at all and apparently don't think it's important.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Of course its Curry.

Curry has already proven he can be the best player on a Championship team.

Giannis still has a fatal flaw in his game that can be exploited.

Until he learns to shoot I don't trust him as the guy in the Finals. Kawhi/KD/Bron/Steph are a tier above.

[Jayt99]

Why tf is steph winning this?

[Hello Brooklyn]

This is easily Curry unless I'm missing something? Why would anyone choose Giannis here for playoff performance? I'm curious

Ummmm because he is the most dominant offensive and defensive player in the game today?

He anchors what some consider the most dominant defense ever and averages 30 points in 30 minutes.

That doesn’t include the fact he is one of the best rebounders in the game or that he is probably the best 6’11” ball handler and passer of all time.

Why would anyone take that to build their team around?

Do people actually believe Giannis is the most dominant offensive player? Its actually not even close.

LeBron
KD
Kawhi
Steph
Harden

All are better offensively than Harden. Until Giannis can learn to shoot hes not going to be in the conversation for most dominant offensive player.

There is no strategy you can use to shut down those other guys. Nurse did it to Giannis last year.

Defensively, I would still take Kawhi over him in a playoff series too.

[Packbuckman]

This is easily Curry unless I'm missing something? Why would anyone choose Giannis here for playoff performance? I'm curious

Ummmm because he is the most dominant offensive and defensive player in the game today?

He anchors what some consider the most dominant defense ever and averages 30 points in 30 minutes.

That doesn’t include the fact he is one of the best rebounders in the game or that he is probably the best 6’11” ball handler and passer of all time.

Why would anyone take that to build their team around?

Do people actually believe Giannis is the most dominant offensive player? Its actually not even close.

LeBron
KD
Kawhi
Steph
Harden

All are better offensively than Harden. Until Giannis can learn to shoot hes not going to be in the conversation for most dominant offensive player.

There is no strategy you can use to shut down those other guys. Nurse did it to Giannis last year.

Defensively, I would still take Kawhi over him in a playoff series too.

Hell no Not this year I wouldn’t and going forward it’s going to be not even a close debate. Giannis never has to be as good as shooters as those players to be better offensively just improving on his mid game and his 3 pt shot in low 30’s like now to keep them honest, because his inside game is so much more efficient. And last year is just that last year great players like him learn from their loses at a young age in the playoffs. Giannis and this bucks team is just better than last year. And definitely no Kawhi is not even close defensively and I would take AD over Kawhi defensively too.

[DaPessimist]

Tough question. I'm a Curry fanboy, but my first instinct was to take Giannis.

Then I thought about it a little, and I think it would really depend on the roster around them. And if we don't know what the roster is, I think I'll take Curry.

[TheProfessor]

Depends if I am going up against the Lakers/LAC/HOU/DALLAS then Giannis because guys like Lebron/Kawhi/Harden/Doncic will hunt Steph on switches . If I am going up against the Raptors/Milwakee/PHI/Denver then I am taking Steph because I dont trust anyone on their respectives teams to exploit Steph efficently and I get Stephs game breaking range.

So I guess Giannis since I'd take him to play against 2/3 true contenders this year.

[Prokorov]

hard not to choose curry. proven best player on a title team. and the easiest player in the league to build around/most portable.

MVP as an on-the-ball player and most gravity of all-time off the ball

[nikster]

This is easily Curry unless I'm missing something? Why would anyone choose Giannis here for playoff performance? I'm curious

Ummmm because he is the most dominant offensive and defensive player in the game today?

He anchors what some consider the most dominant defense ever and averages 30 points in 30 minutes.

That doesn’t include the fact he is one of the best rebounders in the game or that he is probably the best 6’11” ball handler and passer of all time.

Why would anyone take that to build their team around?

Do people actually believe Giannis is the most dominant offensive player? Its actually not even close.

LeBron
KD
Kawhi
Steph
Harden

All are better offensively than Harden. Until Giannis can learn to shoot hes not going to be in the conversation for most dominant offensive player.

There is no strategy you can use to shut down those other guys. Nurse did it to Giannis last year.

Defensively, I would still take Kawhi over him in a playoff series too.

Only one of those players have went up against Nurses defense in the playoffs. Did you see what Nurse did to those other players this season? Kawhi averaged 17.5 ppg on 56 TS% and 6 turnovers in 2 games. Lebron scored 13 points on 15 shots. Harden was efficient but they forced the ball out of his hands, 23 points and 3 assists.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Ummmm because he is the most dominant offensive and defensive player in the game today?

He anchors what some consider the most dominant defense ever and averages 30 points in 30 minutes.

That doesn’t include the fact he is one of the best rebounders in the game or that he is probably the best 6’11” ball handler and passer of all time.

Why would anyone take that to build their team around?

Do people actually believe Giannis is the most dominant offensive player? Its actually not even close.

LeBron
KD
Kawhi
Steph
Harden

All are better offensively than Harden. Until Giannis can learn to shoot hes not going to be in the conversation for most dominant offensive player.

There is no strategy you can use to shut down those other guys. Nurse did it to Giannis last year.

Defensively, I would still take Kawhi over him in a playoff series too.

Hell no Not this year I wouldn’t and going forward it’s going to be not even a close debate. Giannis never has to be as good as shooters as those players to be better offensively just improving on his mid game and his 3 pt shot in low 30’s like now to keep them honest, because his inside game is so much more efficient. And last year is just that last year great players like him learn from their loses at a young age in the playoffs. Giannis and this bucks team is just better than last year. And definitely no Kawhi is not even close defensively and I would take AD over Kawhi defensively too.

Were talking about this year.

A theoretical Giannis that improves his shooting may be better. But that player doesn't exist. He was at 30% this year which is exactly where he was 2 years ago.

The improvement may never come.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Ummmm because he is the most dominant offensive and defensive player in the game today?

He anchors what some consider the most dominant defense ever and averages 30 points in 30 minutes.

That doesn’t include the fact he is one of the best rebounders in the game or that he is probably the best 6’11” ball handler and passer of all time.

Why would anyone take that to build their team around?

Do people actually believe Giannis is the most dominant offensive player? Its actually not even close.

LeBron
KD
Kawhi
Steph
Harden

All are better offensively than Harden. Until Giannis can learn to shoot hes not going to be in the conversation for most dominant offensive player.

There is no strategy you can use to shut down those other guys. Nurse did it to Giannis last year.

Defensively, I would still take Kawhi over him in a playoff series too.

Only one of those players have went up against Nurses defense in the playoffs. Did you see what Nurse did to those other players this season? Kawhi averaged 17.5 ppg on 56 TS% and 6 turnovers in 2 games. Lebron scored 13 points on 15 shots. Harden was efficient but they forced the ball out of his hands, 23 points and 3 assists.

LOL regular season games carry much less weight. Sorry.

[nikster]

Do people actually believe Giannis is the most dominant offensive player? Its actually not even close.

LeBron
KD
Kawhi
Steph
Harden

All are better offensively than Harden. Until Giannis can learn to shoot hes not going to be in the conversation for most dominant offensive player.

There is no strategy you can use to shut down those other guys. Nurse did it to Giannis last year.

Defensively, I would still take Kawhi over him in a playoff series too.

Only one of those players have went up against Nurses defense in the playoffs. Did you see what Nurse did to those other players this season? Kawhi averaged 17.5 ppg on 56 TS% and 6 turnovers in 2 games. Lebron scored 13 points on 15 shots. Harden was efficient but they forced the ball out of his hands, 23 points and 3 assists.

LOL regular season games carry much less weight. Sorry.

Sure, but none of those other players faced a D like the raps in the playoffs. You act like it's an insult to Giannis that one of the best defenses in league history (and probably the best defense ever equipped to stop large wings) slowed him down. I hope Raps get a chance to face off against some of these players this year

[Baski]

I dunno what healthy Curry is now or the kind of team I'd have. Giannis is the safe and easy choice.