Storyline: Isn’t Steph Curry amazing? Well, not everybody agrees, including Oscar, Charles, and Isiah. Why do these NBA legends question Steph? And is their criticism valid?
Stephen Curry is the hottest name in the sports world right now. He once again proved why with an unforgettable performance on Saturday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Curry lit up the Thunder with 46 points and tied an NBA record with 12 3-pointers while also breaking his own NBA single-season record with 288 3-pointers in a season.
Just for kicks he also drilled the game winning 3-point shot with 0.7 seconds left…from a ridiculous 38 feet away. This skinny little shooting machine has the NBA in the palm of his hand right now. No offense, LeBron, but King Curry may have just stolen your crown.
The Golden State Warriors continue to chase the 1996 Chicago Bull’s record of 72 wins in a season. Going 5-1 in the most recent six-game road trip put the Bull’s record in definite reach. Golden State is now 53-5 with 24 games left. Curry paved the way on the six game road trip with an absurd stat line in those games:
Courtesy: USAToday.com
PTS 38.2
AST 7.2
REB 4.8
FG% 56.4
3PM 7.2
3PA 12.5
3PT% 57.3.
Curry’s performance is lighting up the League right now. It’s extraordinary and virtually unmatched in NBA history. Sure, the great ones, such as Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal, had stretches of unbelievable statistical play, but Curry’s range is unprecedented. Nobody has challenged NBA defenses so regularly 35 feet from the basket.
Yet Curry’s fabulous play on the court isn’t the only reason he has been in the news lately. Several NBA legends aren’t as impressed with this guard’s amazing play.
When interviewed on ESPN’s Mike & Mike, NBA Hall of Famer, Oscar Robertson, refused to give Curry and the Warriors–the World Champs and 53-5 this year, mind you–much credit. Robertson blamed the sorry state of NBA defenses for allowing the Warriors and Curry to score at will. He also doesn’t believe that current NBA coaching is up to past standards . It’s not making adjustments to challenge shooters, like Curry. Might Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich call ‘bullshit’ on The Big O’s theories?
Courtesy: blackandsmart.wordpress.com
Another NBA legend–loud mouth and current TNT commentator, Charles Barkley–doesn’t give too much credit to Curry, either. Barkley said Curry is “just a great shooter.” When pushed on the subject Sir Charles wouldn’t budge: “He’s not more than a shooter. He’s just a great shooter.” I love the honesty Barkley brings to the table, but his analysis on Curry is just freaking ‘turrible.”
Legendary NBA Bad Boy, Isiah Thomas, wasn’t quite as blunt as the other two legends. He believes Curry is a superstar, but still won’t give him full credit. When questioned on the issue, Isiah cited rule changes that favor small guys in the NBA. He also ripped NBA defenses. “We’ve never seen anybody shoot the basketball like Steph Curry, but it’s also the worst perimeter defense I’ve ever seen.” (ESPN’s Mike & Mike) Say it ain’t so, Zeke?
It’s not unusual for former league stars to poo-poo the accomplishments of the newer generation. But the lack of acknowledgement is still a bit shocking to me. Yes, rules have been altered over the last decade to allow smaller and quicker NBA guards the ability to penetrate and move better. Among other thing, bullying and hand checking on the perimeter has been legislated out of the game. These changes have enabled more flow by the little guys and have also made perimeter defense much tougher. But these things are not what make Steph Curry great.
Courtesy: Breakthroughbasketball.com
To me, Curry is a once-in-a-generation player. We may not see the likes of him ever again. There’s really no comparison to anybody else: this type of player just hasn’t existed. Think of the best shooters in the NBA over the last 35 years, especially since the 3-pointer came into play. Who comes to mind? Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, Kyle Korver, Larry Bird, Dale Ellis, Steve Nash, Mitch Richmond and Kevin Durant seem like decent choices.
Curry falls much more in league with the Bird, Durant, Nash camp then the others. All three are once-in-a-generation players and Hall of Famers … or will be. Miller, Allen, Korver, Ellis and Richmond are “the great shooters” Sir Charles is talking about.
Curry is more like Nash then any of them. Steph’s superb ball handling ability, combined with phenomenal shooting, makes covering him a nightmare. While Curry may not be quite the playmaker Nash was, Nash was never the volume score Curry is. Curry has high scoring combined with comparable shooting percentages. Plus Curry’s range is astounding. Curry regularly takes shots behind the three-point line … and with no second thought. But if the defender jumps out on him, Curry has the ball-handling skills and finishing ability to either drop in a plain, old 2-point shot or dish the rock. (He averages a healthy seven assists for his career, Charles.)
Steph Curry is the NBA king right now and he has that championship ring to prove it. I’m not sure why some detractors exist, but don’t count me among them.
Curry is all the beast that MJ, Shaq and Wilt ever were–just in his own, unique way. It’s hard to doubt when I keep seeing long-range ‘Curry bombs’ win NBA games.
