Playoffs: '09 Kobe Bryant vs '22 Stephen Curry

[Matt15]

Playoffs only, who was the better player?

[LukaTheGOAT]

I think Kobe Bryant performed better than Steph, however the underlying context of how you weigh the opponents they faced can heavily impact this assessment. I do think Steph's Finals Performance given how good I suspect the Celtics defense to be, as being better than any single round performance of Bryant, however that was 1 round.

09 Bryant in the PS

Inflation Adjusted 30.6 pts per 75 possessions (rTS% of 3.3%), PlayVal (Playmaking value, an estimate of a player’s points per 100 impacts from playmaking only)-1.3

Backpicks BPM-7.5

AuPM/G-5.6

BPM-9.1

RAPTOR-9.08

22 Steph in the PS

29.1 pts per 75 possessions (rTS% of 5.2%), PlayVal-1.4. The scoring numbers for Steph are not adjusted for inflation.

Backpicks BPM-6.2

AuPM/G-4.3

BPM-7.7

RAPTOR-8.9

However, like I said, I think Steph's Finals Performance stands out above any single round between these two. If you wanted to put more emphasis on the impressiveness of what he did against such a vaunted Celtics defense, then that may change your perspective.

Steph in the Finals was special.

In the 22 Finals, he averaged 31.3 pts per 75 possessions on a rTS% of 7%. Not only did his scoring his improve but so did seemingly his playmaking for others, as he had a PlayVal of 2. The diversity of Steph's scoring was also just incredibly special. He didn't just get it done from 3, but he also shot 51% from the midrange (KD, CP3 type percentages) on about 9.9 attempts per 75 possessions.

His Backpicks BPM also rises to a 7.3 and AuPM/G to a 5.2. And once again, considering how good the Celtics defense was the 2nd half of the year (one of the GOAT defenses if you believe in the sample), I find his play extremely impressive.

[TheGOATRises007]

Picking Curry, because of his finals performance.

I honestly don't think Kobe has that in his locker.

[ardee]

Picking Curry, because of his finals performance.

I honestly don't think Kobe has that in his locker.

Watch any of his WCF performances from 08-10, or what he did to the Jazz in 08. That's not even getting into the 2001 run.

[TheGOATRises007]

Picking Curry, because of his finals performance.

I honestly don't think Kobe has that in his locker.

Watch any of his WCF performances from 08-10, or what he did to the Jazz in 08. That's not even getting into the 2001 run.

I've watched them live.

I think Curry peaks higher than Kobe.

[ceoofkobefans]

I think Kobe Bryant performed better than Steph, however the underlying context of how you weigh the opponents they faced can heavily impact this assessment. I do think Steph's Finals Performance given how good I suspect the Celtics defense to be, as being better than any single round performance of Bryant, however that was 1 round.

09 Bryant in the PS

Inflation Adjusted 30.6 pts per 75 possessions (rTS% of 3.3%), PlayVal (Playmaking value, an estimate of a player’s points per 100 impacts from playmaking only)-1.3

Backpicks BPM-7.5

AuPM/G-5.6

BPM-9.1

RAPTOR-9.08

22 Steph in the PS

29.1 pts per 75 possessions (rTS% of 5.2%), PlayVal-1.4. The scoring numbers for Steph are not adjusted for inflation.

Backpicks BPM-6.2

AuPM/G-4.3

BPM-7.7

RAPTOR-8.9

However, like I said, I think Steph's Finals Performance stands out above any single round between these two. If you wanted to put more emphasis on the impressiveness of what he did against such a vaunted Celtics defense, then that may change your perspective.

Steph in the Finals was special.

In the 22 Finals, he averaged 31.3 pts per 75 possessions on a rTS% of 7%. Not only did his scoring his improve but so did seemingly his playmaking for others, as he had a PlayVal of 2. The diversity of Steph's scoring was also just incredibly special. He didn't just get it done from 3, but he also shot 51% from the midrange (KD, CP3 type percentages) on about 9.9 attempts per 75 possessions.

His Backpicks BPM also rises to a 7.3 and AuPM/G to a 5.2. And once again, considering how good the Celtics defense was the 2nd half of the year (one of the GOAT defenses if you believe in the sample), I find his play extremely impressive.

2009 Kobe Bryant in the finals: 32.5 PTS/75 +1.7 rTS (also not inflation adjusted which would put his Pts/75 over 35)

Obviously this isn’t *better* than stephs finals but it’s not significantly worse either especially when you consider Kobe being a better defender and imo having more gravity (which sounds weird when discussing Steph Curry)

[OhayoKD]

think it should be consideted that the warriors were the worst team in the league without steph and have been that over the last three years. Maybe that's just noise, but it makes me think curry's win is more impressive tbh

[PistolPeteJR]

think it should be consideted that the warriors were the worst team in the league without steph and have been that over the last three years. Maybe that's just noise, but it makes me think curry's win is more impressive tbh

Gotta contextualize though:

Even though Steph makes him better, Klay was out and that affected team impact for sure, on both ends.
Even though Steph makes him better, Poole exploding this year affected team impact on O quite a bit.
No GP2, Otto Porter Jr.
And Wiggins had by far his best year on both ends. Again, recognizing Steph helps make him better on O, but Wiggins’ defensive potential finally being realized had nothing to do with Steph. And it affects team success big time. If they didn’t have Wiggins kill Tatum in the Finals, they don’t win the chip.

In other words, it’s not as simple as, “Steph took them from worst to best alone.”

[jasonxxx102]

I will take Steph Curry in the playoffs any year, no question. He’s just so much more impactful