We'd do well to remember that a player's full impact isn't easily captured by numbers alone. While James certainly has a knack for timely and often flashy passes, the data seems to indicate that Curry has indeed emerged as one of the game's most complete floor generals.ĭoes that break the tie and mean we crown Curry the game's most lethal offensive threat? His 2.27 assist-to-turnover ratio bested James at 1.81, as did his 26.7 assist ratio when compared to James' 20.6 figure.Īnd Curry put those numbers up despite trailing James in usage rate by a margin of 30.9 percent to 28.1 percent. Per NBA.com, however, Curry also has an edge in terms of the more advanced calculations. He scored a career-high 61 points in March against Charlotte, setting a new franchise record and reminding us that he's every bit as dangerous as pure scorers like Kevin Durant or Carmelo Anthony. Though the two-time champion elicits most of his praise on account of overall well-roundedness, there's no denying his status as an historically talented scorer. That diverse arsenal of weaponry makes James' decisions impossible to predict, even for the most well-studied defenders. His athleticism, strength and quickness instantly made him one of the game's all-time great slashers, and his explosive finishing ability has ensured all that penetration pays off.Īdd to that an exceptional in-between game and above-average three-point stroke, and you're looking at a scorer with virtually unparalleled versatility. While James can't match Curry's jumper, the fact remains that he's never had to.Īt 6'8" and 250 pounds, James is a different kind of beast altogether. His elevation-type shot is redefining and revolutionizing the art of shooting."įormer Warriors head coach Mark Jackson was similarly hyperbolic in his praise for Curry, telling Fleming, " We haven't seen anybody else with his ability to be a great shooter across the board," subsequently listing the myriad scenarios in which the 26-year-old excels as a shooter. Shooting guru and Hornets director of international scouting Adam Filippi told Fleming, " He's not just the purest, greatest shooter to ever play the game. Everything moves through you like a wave, almost. When it happens, everything is very smooth and calm from your feet through your release. "But mostly that perfect form, when your body is in rhythm from the time you plant your feet to the time you release the ball. "I love everything about shooting," Curry told ESPN the Magazine's David Fleming in April. It's hard to quantify that kind of value. It's a constant threat that opens lanes and destabilizes defenses to the benefit of his teammates. In other words, that three-point shooting is more than a means to Curry's own points. He works tirelessly to get himself open by running past screens and helps Golden State maintain ideal spacing with his seemingly limitless range. While it's tempting to evaluate a player's skills on the basis of what he does with the ball in his hands, off-ball play has become equally important in a game defined by motion and spacing. With all eyes (and primary ball-handling responsibilities) on Curry, it's a little easier for defenders to pick their poison against the Warriors.Īnother factor that weighs in Curry's favor is his ability to space the floor. Outside of the sweet-shooting Klay Thompson, Golden State relies on second-tier scorers like Andre Iguodala and David Lee to offset the burden on Curry. Golden State, on the other hand, went from 111.9 to 95.8 without Curry, a difference of 16.1." With the exception of spotting up and coming off the screen, James bested Curry in points per possession on almost every other type of set play."īut from another perspective, Greenberg adds that Curry was perhaps more essential to his team's offense, writing, " When James was off the court, the Heat went from scoring 113.7 points per 100 possessions (ORtg) to 104.7, a drop of nine. The Washington Post's Neil Greenberg writes, "According to Synergy Sports, James was seventh in the league in overall points per possession (1.12) while Curry ranked 63rd (1.01). If basic statistics don't demonstrate a clear advantage, perhaps some advanced metrics will shed some light on the comparison. When assessing two players at such a high level, the most appropriate judgement may simply be that they're different-and both extremely good.īut a proper investigation is in order, even if it proves somewhat inconclusive. So we may have to do a little work to reach a conclusion, and that's assuming there's a legitimate conclusion to be reached.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |