<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fM_wrhUDi80" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Stephen Curry's defense makes him a target against the Cavaliers http://www.si.com/nba/2016/06/15/stephen-curry-defense-cavaliers-warriors-nba-finals Stephen Curry's defense was a big reason the Warriors lost Game 6 http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/6/...defense-nba-finals-2016-warriors-vs-cavaliers NBA Finals: Cavaliers take advantage of Stephen Curry's defense http://www.mercurynews.com/warriors...valiers-take-advantage-stephen-currys-defense
I think Curry is a solid team defender, but the notion that he is either an amazing, elite, great, or above average defender is wrong. He's average at best and most of the time. Sometimes a team does target him though when they have the personnel to do it by using switches and screens. (Kyrie/Lebron/Smith) Curry is quick enough and does have solid length to stay in front of his man and sometimes even contest his shot, but Curry is still prone to have mental lapses and make mistakes. I think Curry for the most part was sought out to be this sort of mystical perfect player that has no flaws by the media. The last 3 games of the finals showed that Curry can be attacked with the right players. Westbrook had trouble scoring (and making jumpers) on him because he simply just has a bad jumper, and if Westy drove in then he'd meet either Bogut or Green. A guy like Westbrook (or even Wall) can't really take advantage if Curry if Curry plays smart defense (not reaching or going to blocking fouls.) Guys like Lillard, Lowry, Irving, Thomas, and Paul can in fact take advantage of Curry most times whether he plays smart defense or not. Then if you simply put bigger wings on him like Butler, Harden, George, Wade, or Derozan then it makes it even more troublesome for Curry since they all have the physical advantages. With that said Curry for the most part is still a better defender than Irving and Lillard. Curry gets is easier be surrounded by guys like Bogut, Green, Andre, and Thompson so Curry can pick his spots to play the passing lanes or get saved.
Curry was considered a terrible defender at the beginning of his career when he shared the court with the likes of Monta Ellis and David Lee, and his defensive weaknesses only became less noticeable when GSW retooled their line-up featuring decent to great defenders in Bogut, Iggy, Draymond, Klay, etc. I still think Curry's a terrible defender, but GSW usually does a good job hiding him on that end (obviously not in the Finals though.)
Both Curry and Thompson have the luxury of having great team defense behind them. Because Green and Bogut are so good at shutting down the lane it makes the job simpler for GS perimeter defenders. Curry and Thompson's primary role is to play up and pressure their man on the perimeter. This makes them even more susceptible to having their man drive past them but when that happens Green and Bogart are waiting to challenge the driver. Westbrook could go by Curry anytime that he wanted but his chances were minimized because Westbrook was having to challenge Green and Bogut at the rim on drives. Instead Westbrook stayed on the perimeter much more than he normally does. The Warriors were more than happy to allow Westbrook to take all the shots that he wanted from the perimeter as it meant that they could continue to double Durant. The same thing happens with Thompson. He takes the best offensive player and gets beat off the dribble often but he's got Green and Bogut helping cover for him. Harden or Kyrie have little problem going past Thompson but when they do they end up trying to score at the rim over Green and Bogut. The uber talented '86 Rocket's team use to be able to do the same thing because they had Hakeem and Ralph on the back line. There's video on youtube of Robert Reid talking about how he would overplay his man and almost dare them to go past him and challenge the twin towers. When you have that great help defense behind you it makes a perimeter defender's job much easier because he's not too worried about getting beat off of the dribble.
You need to make a full compilation of his pathetic defense in the Finals Harden's defense. Cavs literally just won an NBA title by attacking him on every possession.
Yes, the writers who vote are often influenced by team record or past reputation. That's why Kobe continued to be named to the All-Defensive teams years after he actually stopped trying on defense and it's the reason that Harden didn't make any of the All-NBA teams this season.
Those clips show a guy who tries but sucks. That's not a problem. Hardens video shows a guy who doesn't try.
More excuses from you. You single out Harden for his turnovers yet Curry had more TO's than assists in the Finals. Harden's never been close to doing that. You single out Curry for supposed poor leadership yet Curry's not even the leader on his own team & just blew a 3-1 lead with homecourt. Now you're making excuses for his pathetic defense in the Finals despite him being surrounded by multiple elite defenders unlike Harden.
That's not true. Harden gets criticized for these kinds of honest defensive mistakes all the time. Besides, how can you tell someone is not trying on defense or just made a silly mental mistake? Good team defense requires constant communication and snap judgement on the part of the defenders, to me it seems like Harden makes a lot of bad mental lapses while playing defense than just not trying. Also, if you watch Harden's episode on E:60, during the interview he says that he was 'slow, in fact very slow' player in high school. When will people here realize that Harden lacks physical attributes of a good defender? He's not very quick or agile for a guard, which makes it very difficult to play good perimeter defense. Call him a bad defender all you want, but don't say it's 100% due to lack of effort. Irving, DeRozan and Lillard are all atrocious defenders not because they don't give a *****, but because of their physical limitations (such as slow reaction time or lack of lateral quickness.) It's no coincidence Harden does a lot better job at defending the post, where you don't have to be quick.
Post whatever you want.. Any GM would take Curry over Harden any day of the week.. Heck, I would! Team player, wins a championship and comes back the next season in better shape to win a unanimous MVP vote.. ISO ball frustrates teammates (and fans - I HATED watching Rockets games this year for the first time since 1996), reaches the conference finals and doesn't work hard enough on other aspects of his game.. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for James Harden and Houston is a better team with him than without. But keep it real guys. If GSW wanted to trade Curry for Harden straight up, would you say no?
Curry just got exposed for being a fake MVP and got his skinny ass kicked by Kyrie Irving. Yes, I would take Irving and Harden over exposed Curry in a heart beat. Put Curry in a different team with no Draymond and Klay and let's see how he does.
Not sure why u blaming iso ball on harden. Doesnt harden pass enough for a shooting guard? Or we need better coaches and players? If rockets last year had curry they wouldnt even have made the playoffs and curry proly injured for playing all those minutes
In his 2nd year, with a ball-dominant Monta Ellis (and no Klay/Draymond), Curry averaged 19 ppg, 6 apg, and 4 rpg. He shot 44% from the 3pt line. Also, that's not a very compelling video. In the first clip, he switches off Lebron onto Tristan Thompson. If the Warriors play a switching defense, why is that a defensive lapse?
Curry was late on the switch, he was supposed to guard LeBron, not Thompson. And yes, when Curry shared the floor with Monta Eliis and David Lee, he was considered a horrible defender.