The Stephen Curry Thread (2015-16 Pt. 1)

[cpower]

I still feel teams haven't even figured out a game plan, let alone a practical demonstration, on how to defend him. Jordan was dropping back on pick and rolls like he's Ricky Rubio. I know a lot of people have been talking about of teams selling out to stop Curry, but I'm not seeing it for the most part. Teams aren't selling out and he's killing them for it.

last year's Cavs did a great job containing him by double/triple team him on every possession down the play. You limit Curry by 5 pts per game and let the others to beat you. This might be the best plan.

I agree. I haven't seen that game plan this year at all.

The only problem is good teams usually have many good offensive players on the floor at the same time and their ability to play D is greatly limited. e.g. Irving will not play as hard as Della so Curry would have a better game overall. spurs would play Parker but he cant stop nobody. Lawson and Reddick aren't going to stop nobody. It's always a trade-off

[MisterHibachi]

The Big 3 Miami teams are probably the best equipped to defend Curry. Not many teams play like them anymore. Maybe Curry forces them to, and we move away from Thibs defense. Who knows.

Someone said in this thread earlier the Thibs defense was designed for ball-handling wings like Kobe and LeBron, and Curry takes full advantage of that because of the shots that defense gives up. He himself might just force a league-wide defensive shift, probably to the Miami-style defense of the LeBron-era.

[MisterHibachi]

last year's Cavs did a great job containing him by double/triple team him on every possession down the play. You limit Curry by 5 pts per game and let the others to beat you. This might be the best plan.

I agree. I haven't seen that game plan this year at all.

The only problem is good teams usually have many good offensive players on the floor at the same time and their ability to play D is greatly limited. e.g. Irving will not play as hard as Della so Curry would have a better game overall. spurs would play Parker but he cant stop nobody. Lawson and Reddick aren't going to stop nobody. It's always a trade-off

I don't know. Focus just on the last Clippers game, Jordan was not playing Curry right at all. You have to trap him or at least come up to the three point line to contest the shot. Jordan wasn't doing that at all, and Doc did nothing about it so I assume it was the gameplan. Like, they seemed so afraid of Draymond's rolls they were conceding 3s to Curry. That's mind boggling.

[cpower]

I agree. I haven't seen that game plan this year at all.

The only problem is good teams usually have many good offensive players on the floor at the same time and their ability to play D is greatly limited. e.g. Irving will not play as hard as Della so Curry would have a better game overall. spurs would play Parker but he cant stop nobody. Lawson and Reddick aren't going to stop nobody. It's always a trade-off

I don't know. Focus just on the last Clippers game, Jordan was not playing Curry right at all. You have to trap him or at least come up to the three point line to contest the shot. Jordan wasn't doing that at all, and Doc did nothing about it so I assume it was the gameplan. Like, they seemed so afraid of Draymond's rolls they were conceding 3s to Curry. That's mind boggling.

yeah it's definitely on Jordan but it's a natural reaction to stay inside the three point line to defend the paint, as he always does for other 29 teams in the league. Also Curry has been better on his hesitation moves so maybe Jordan was fully awared of that. I still think it's better to trap him early than letting your bigs to make decisions.

[MisterHibachi]

The only problem is good teams usually have many good offensive players on the floor at the same time and their ability to play D is greatly limited. e.g. Irving will not play as hard as Della so Curry would have a better game overall. spurs would play Parker but he cant stop nobody. Lawson and Reddick aren't going to stop nobody. It's always a trade-off

I don't know. Focus just on the last Clippers game, Jordan was not playing Curry right at all. You have to trap him or at least come up to the three point line to contest the shot. Jordan wasn't doing that at all, and Doc did nothing about it so I assume it was the gameplan. Like, they seemed so afraid of Draymond's rolls they were conceding 3s to Curry. That's mind boggling.

yeah it's definitely on Jordan but it's a natural reaction to stay inside the three point line to defend the paint, as he always does for other 29 teams in the league. Also Curry has been better on his hesitation moves so maybe Jordan was fully awared of that. I still think it's better to trap him early than letting your bigs to make decisions.

Oh, I know you have to play Curry differently than the other ~400 players in the league. That's my point. They're playing him like other regular point guards, and he's killing them. Until Curry actually sees a game plan designed for him, he's gonna keep beasting. I think we'll see teams try Cleveland style defense in the playoffs, but not in the regular season, not enough prep.

[bballexpert]

Curry i think is the best pg since Magic man i mean Nash,Kidd,Paul and Stockton were great but they were not ground breaking. Way Curry is playing right now impact wise is something never seen before kinda like Magic when he came to the league. The difference is Magic was 12 inches taller then most pgs and Curry has a shot that has teams wondering about how d is played.

[SideshowBob]

Stephen Curry is only player in history that shooting the threes better than 45% and has attempted more than 8 threes per game. In fact, his 3PA is currently at 10.8.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&per_poss_base=100&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=&year_max=&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=99&shoot_hand=&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&birth_state=&college_id=&draft_year=&is_active=&debut_yr_nba_start=&debut_yr_nba_end=&debut_yr_aba_start=&debut_yr_aba_end=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=&award=&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=fg3a_per_g&c1comp=gt&c1val=8&c2stat=fg3_pct&c2comp=gt&c2val=45&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ws


This kinda of volume is Unheard-of, and i believe he can maintain this. The volume three for Curry is like mid-range 2 for Jordan and sky hook for Jabbar, something can not be copied by other players.

Pro-tip: Hit the TinyURL button on pages like that to get a shorter link.

Also, yeah Hibachi, I'm guessing they're all just OK with Curry going off rather than the others going off. That might actually just be the gameplan, who knows.

[Mazter]

Stephen Curry is only player in history that shooting the threes better than 45% and has attempted more than 8 threes per game. In fact, his 3PA is currently at 10.8.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&per_poss_base=100&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=&year_max=&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=99&shoot_hand=&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&birth_state=&college_id=&draft_year=&is_active=&debut_yr_nba_start=&debut_yr_nba_end=&debut_yr_aba_start=&debut_yr_aba_end=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=&award=&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=fg3a_per_g&c1comp=gt&c1val=8&c2stat=fg3_pct&c2comp=gt&c2val=45&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ws

This kinda of volume is Unheard-of, and i believe he can maintain this. The volume three for Curry is like mid-range 2 for Jordan and sky hook for Jabbar, something can not be copied by other players.

I don't think it is fair to compare him after 5 games with players who played a whole season. He is the 7th player to shoot 8 per game and 45% after the first 5 games. He is the only one with 10 attempts per game and 50% though.

[Jedi32]

it's not fair to compare him with any shooter in history because he'll probably just blow them out the water anyway.

[HeartBreakKid]

Curry i think is the best pg since Magic man i mean Nash,Kidd,Paul and Stockton were great but they were not ground breaking. Way Curry is playing right now impact wise is something never seen before kinda like Magic when he came to the league. The difference is Magic was 12 inches taller then most pgs and Curry has a shot that has teams wondering about how d is played.

All those PGs you listed did do pretty ground breaking things, especially Nash. I mean Nash actually did change how people play the game.

[trickshot]

The Big 3 Miami teams are probably the best equipped to defend Curry. Not many teams play like them anymore. Maybe Curry forces them to, and we move away from Thibs defense. Who knows.

Someone said in this thread earlier the Thibs defense was designed for ball-handling wings like Kobe and LeBron, and Curry takes full advantage of that because of the shots that defense gives up. He himself might just force a league-wide defensive shift, probably to the Miami-style defense of the LeBron-era.

I AND1'd you not because I agree fully with your point but rather the idea behind it. An edited version of the Big 3 era defense would be needed. Their defense is the best equipped for stopping curry but the worst equipped for handling Golden State as a whole.

Everyone is so concerned about curry getting his shot off that they forget that the Warriors play a system that takes full advantage of any traps or double teams. Their ball movement to find the open man against scrambling defenses is almost as demoralizing as a Curry three. But at least a Curry three doesnt tire the whole defense by having them constantly running to get into position. The former gets you exhausted while the latter sees you down 20 points in a few possessions.

If you're going to use an aggressive trapping system against the Warriors then you would need to pick your poison by making their worst offensive player at the time have to shoot it. The Cavs tried that but then Iguodala punished them. GS is deep so either way you'd be picking one hell of a poison.

And also have a good defensive bench . I get tired of seeing Shaun Livingston abuse undersized PGs in the post EVERY game. There are so many little things about the Warriors team that make them great. All of which go unnoticed because of the Curry factor

[BScoreez]

Some good early season stats Curry is putting up.

Curry is currently leading the league in scoring while playing only 32 minutes/game. Per 36 minutes Curry is averaging 40.3 points. That is more points than minutes played. Of the top 10 scorers Blake Griffin is 2nd in scoring per 36 minutes at 29.3 points (currently 11 points below Curry).

Curry is currently scoring a ridiculous 1.8 points per shot, which is equivalent to shooting 89% on 2 point field goals.

Despite having the ball in his hands so often Curry is only turning the ball over 1.6 times per game.

[Onus]

Pro-tip: Hit the TinyURL button on pages like that to get a shorter link.

Also, yeah Hibachi, I'm guessing they're all just OK with Curry going off rather than the others going off. That might actually just be the gameplan, who knows.

Teams tried to gameplan Curry in the post season and forced the others to beat them for the most part outside of Houston and the Pels. That obviously didn't work. Perhaps now teams are trying to see if Curry will beat them consistently if they let him rather than trying what didn't work in the playoffs. All I know is it's fun watching Curry destroy teams right now, and if teams play him like this all season he could have a monster season. Really the game isn't as fun when teams double Steph out to the half court line to get the ball out of his hands. I want to see Steph drop bombs!!

[the_gaz_21]

At current pace (I know, I know, sample size) Curry will break his own regular season 3pm record in a little over 50 games, and will score over 400 for the season.

Now history and basic logic says he will not keep this up.... but... what if he does?

[euliss]

i wouldn't be surprised if he attempts more 3s than than 2s, it was that way in the playoffs last year (11 3pa vs 9 2pa iirc)

[bballexpert]

Curry i think is the best pg since Magic man i mean Nash,Kidd,Paul and Stockton were great but they were not ground breaking. Way Curry is playing right now impact wise is something never seen before kinda like Magic when he came to the league. The difference is Magic was 12 inches taller then most pgs and Curry has a shot that has teams wondering about how d is played.

All those PGs you listed did do pretty ground breaking things, especially Nash. I mean Nash actually did change how people play the game.

Did people have to worry about defending Nash to the point of what they have to do with Curry. Nash was great player but i feel Curry impacts the game more and his stats are better also has a better peak. Magic is the best and i feel after this season Curry is right behind him there has not been point guard who was such a scoring threat and had huge impact on the game.

[bballexpert]

Curry i think is the best pg since Magic man i mean Nash,Kidd,Paul and Stockton were great but they were not ground breaking. Way Curry is playing right now impact wise is something never seen before kinda like Magic when he came to the league. The difference is Magic was 12 inches taller then most pgs and Curry has a shot that has teams wondering about how d is played.

All those PGs you listed did do pretty ground breaking things, especially Nash. I mean Nash actually did change how people play the game.

Did people have to worry about defending Nash to the point of what they have to do with Curry. Nash was great player but i feel Curry impacts the game more and his stats are better also has a better peak. Magic is the best and i feel after this season Curry is right behind him there has not been point guard who was such a scoring threat and had huge impact on the game.

I mean even advance stats really look better for Curry i mean his per and obpm and bpm total **** on Nash. I mean you can argue him being the best player in the league as well Nash was great but he not having the impact Curry is.

[ZGendron317]

SC30 will finish as the best shooter in NBA history and it won't even be close. He's out there right now just on his own level. It's unreal.

[cpower]

Stephen Curry is only player in history that shooting the threes better than 45% and has attempted more than 8 threes per game. In fact, his 3PA is currently at 10.8.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&type=totals&per_minute_base=36&per_poss_base=100&lg_id=NBA&is_playoffs=N&year_min=&year_max=&franch_id=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&age_min=0&age_max=99&height_min=0&height_max=99&shoot_hand=&birth_country_is=Y&birth_country=&birth_state=&college_id=&draft_year=&is_active=&debut_yr_nba_start=&debut_yr_nba_end=&debut_yr_aba_start=&debut_yr_aba_end=&is_hof=&is_as=&as_comp=gt&as_val=&award=&pos_is_g=Y&pos_is_gf=Y&pos_is_f=Y&pos_is_fg=Y&pos_is_fc=Y&pos_is_c=Y&pos_is_cf=Y&qual=&c1stat=fg3a_per_g&c1comp=gt&c1val=8&c2stat=fg3_pct&c2comp=gt&c2val=45&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&c5stat=&c5comp=gt&c6mult=1.0&c6stat=&order_by=ws

This kinda of volume is Unheard-of, and i believe he can maintain this. The volume three for Curry is like mid-range 2 for Jordan and sky hook for Jabbar, something can not be copied by other players.

I don't think it is fair to compare him after 5 games with players who played a whole season. He is the 7th player to shoot 8 per game and 45% after the first 5 games. He is the only one with 10 attempts per game and 50% though.

i think he will easily maintain a 45% on 3s. He has done that in 12,13 already. I bet he has a shot at 48%

[JLei]

I think one of the more impressive things about Curry is how he facilitates small ball and lineup flexibility. Which I think is captured in his DRPM (Doc MJ pointed this out to me) which I think even the most enthusiastic Curry fans would say overrates him tremendously on D vs. what we traditionally think a +2 defender is. His ability to play pretty much every center off the court that would be able to punish Draymond in the post due to his ability to fire off a 3 against a traditional dropping PnR style defense for a big man makes that Draymond at center lineup workable and the best lineup in the league.

His unique abilities on offense allow them to play smaller which improves both the offense and defense without being punished in the traditional sense of being a smaller team.

It's a different sort of way of how peak Miami Lebron achieved the same sort thing. Lebron facilitates small ball and lineup flexibility by being a freak of nature and basically a point guard in a big man's body. And able to improve both offense and defense by just being utilized in more dangerous positions. Curry allows this small ball lineup by basically forcing you to being unable to play a center which is arguably even more dangerous.

Bosh, Bron, Battier, Wade, Chalmers/ Allen
Green, Barnes, Iggy, Thompson, Curry

Are the 2 best lineups I've seen in the past 3-4 years.