LAS VEGAS -- No one disputes that Stephen Curry was the best shooter taken in last month's draft, but after four games, no one can make the claim that he's the most consistent. He's enjoyed a few hot streaks, but after a 3-for-15 performance from the field on Tuesday, he's shooting just 31.4% from the field. Despite the rough introduction to the NBA, Curry doesn't seem to be losing confidence. He's usually running the point when he's in the game, and the Warriors have encouraged him to continue being aggressive looking for his shot, and he's followed orders.
"He doesn't worry about the stat sheet, because he knows that's only going to tell half the story of the game if he continues to play," Warriors assistant coach Keith Smart said. "Of course, I'm sure at Davidson he's had games where he couldn't buy a bucket, but you got to keep playing."
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"I remember he said, 'My next shot I feel is always going in. And all of a sudden it started to go in. What he has to do when he gets in those 0 and 8 slumps, my best thing to do is get to the basket, get a foul, go to the free throw line and see them going in. Because he's going to play with some other better players where he may not get as many attempts, he won't get as many attempts, he's got to figure out a way to manufacture points when your shot is not going in."
Curry has averaged seven free-throw attempts per game, showing a surprising ability to get into the paint and attack the basket. And to his credit, even though he's continued to look for his own shot, it hasn't come at the expense of his teammates -- he also finished with eight assists on Tuesday, and has averaged 4.5 in his first four games.
While Curry was usually the first, second and third option at Davidson, he's now surrounded with capable scoring options, and seems to be building a strong rapport with Anthony Randolph, in particular.
"[The pro game is] more open and I can make more plays as a point guard, being able to get my teammates involved and things like that," Curry said. "From a 'fun' standpoint, it's more enjoyable for me being able to make plays and play with talented guys like Randolph and other guys who can score.
"I'm still trying to learn all the names of plays and knowing where to be, and as a point guard you got to be the first one to tell everybody where to be, so that's a struggle. But I like the the freedom to make plays and get in the gaps and the way we work off each other. It's going to be fun to come into practice and games and play that kind of system everyday, so I'm looking forward to that."
The question that's come up several times throughout Curry's stay in Las Vegas is whether he's qualified to handle point guard duties in the regular season, a job ostensibly belonging to Monta Ellis. Truth be told, neither Curry nor Ellis are a "pure" point guard, and in Golden State's up-tempo offense, just about anybody can trigger the fast break.
"If you get a rebound, even Anthony can bring it up and me and Monta are running the wings, or whoever gets the ball, we're running the wings and get up and down," Curry said. "I think coach Smart has told me, you're a guard, whatever that means, just play. And that's what we did."
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
At Davidson, Curry was an Iverson clone- shoot shoot shoot, big average via shot volume and let the media do the rest. The drool over AI never mentions the 377 shots per game he takes or his "whoosh" defense. Curry is the media's new Iverson- a chuck who plays no "D" but gets the press because he scores 25 a game- on 99 shots. He's a bridesmaid like AI- he'll be an All-Star, he'll get a scoring title (while shooting 22% from the field) and he'll get the usual press adoration, but never an NBA title. Too sefish and no game beyond his orgasmic shooting. The media loves numbers- they'll worship Curry. But all he does is shoot- any NBA player could do that if he were allowed to. AI in Denver = mediocrity. Billups in Denver = deep into the playoffs. Difference= Billups has more game, shoots less, much better FG %, team player.
Curry = Iverson. Just my opinion.
Um, you may be right that Billups' defense is better than AI's (even though, his defense is a bit overrated as well), but as far as shooting? AI is a career 42.5 percent shooter, Billups is 41.6. With Denver, AI shot a career best 45.4 and 45.8. Billups shot 42 percent. Billups has had four seasons where he's shot below 40 percent. During the Pistons back-to-back-to-back-to-back ECF runs, Billups was somewhere between 39 percent and 45. Billups is more efficient because he can knock down threes and is lights out from the freethrow line, but he's never been the focal point on offense on any team he's played on. When Iverson was the second option, his shooting percentage skyrocketed. And with the style that Billups plays, there's no way he could have carried that 76ers team Iverson took to the finals.
As for Denver with AI, they won 50 games. Billups' Denver team won 54 games. Not that big of a difference. Also, it must be pointed out that Melo had one of his worst seasons in terms of scoring playing with Billups, while he enjoyed one of his best while playing with Iverson. It must also be noted that the Nuggets did not have a healthy Nene or Chris Anderson or Dahntay Jones when AI played. Kenyon Martin was also injured. Add Nene with Birdman, Jones and a healthy Martin, and those are four major pieces to solidifying a formidable defense and the main reason why the Nuggets improved by four wins. Throw in the fact that Phoenix, San Antonio, New Orleans and the Rockets all suffered major injuries, and it's a lot clearer why Denver was able to make it to the Conference Finals.
While Billups had an impact, to say that he was the difference is quite the overstatement.
dodgerbloo15: I think we'd both rather have Billups than AI on our team, no? Your stats are supportive of your argument. Maybe Billups' early career stats were poorer than the last four years of his career? He seemed MUCH more consistent and reliable as a scorer in recent years than AI ever was. Stunned that AI's career FG% was over 40. Good job on digging that up.
Curry did take a lot of shots, but he was on a much worse Davidson team, where, as the article states, he was the #1 option. And although Curry had some bad shooting games, his team would never have made it as far into the tournament his sophmore year without him, and last year as a junior they didn't make the tournament at all when he got hurt.
The other thing to remember about Curry is when they played stronger out of conference opponents like Duke his production never dropped off. With an average core of guys around him that would seemingly be easily defended, leading the opposing team to really key on him, he still got his shots and kept his team in games.
Melvin,
I get what your getting at, and the basketball purist in me wants to automatically agree with you. I just think it's unfair to Allen Iverson to belittle what he has accomplished. The dude's got his misgivings both on and off the court, but he's really been blamed far too much for Detroit's fall and Denver's modest rise. I think Billups is a better team player, but it really depends on the pieces he has around him. If you need a guy to carry your squad, AI in his prime is your guy. If you need a guard to manage your squad, Billups is it. But let's not get it twisted, Mr. Big Shot hasn't hit a really big shot in five years, and he's prone to stretches of horrible shot selection too.
And Billups has been consistent in his shooting. He's hovered right around 41-42 percent his whole career. It wasn't just early career struggles that bring down his career percentage either. He's just that kind of shooter. I did admit that Billups is a far more efficient shooter because he gets to the line and converts at a ridiculous rate, plus he's above average from downtown, both of which make his TS% really good. But Billups has had the opportunity to play with Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, etc.
AI got Eric Snow, Aaron McKie, Dikembe Mutumbo, Glen Robinson and a hobbled Chris Webber. Big difference in teammates.
AI is a volume scorer. Whether that's been out of necessity or out of sheer ball-hogging alpha male ego on his part isn't wholly clear.
Last thought, sorry, right now, I'd take Billups over AI no question. But we're talking overall body of work. That's a bit of a closer call.
dodgerbloo: Always good to exchange with someone
who knows his stuff, backs it up with facts and data and keeps the conversation civil and on point.
Rare commodities on these sports blogs. Kudos.
Ditto Melvin. So many people who post on here like to pop off. Thanks. Look forward to chatting with you in the future.
Curry was a beast at davidson but idk if he can hang right now wit da pros. Maybe in a couple years but u never kno