Stephen Curry is so good, opponents have stopped pretending to guard him

[elmouse03]

No amount of hand checking is going to stop Curry from jacking 27 foot 3-pointers.

But how many would he make?

[Ghostown42]

Hate to sound like this but what about the rules from Jordan's years to Curry's year?

The main thing that would affect Curry would be the handchecking rules. I mean, if you watch 80s basketball, you'll see PG's with their backs to the basket outside the 3 point line. You never see that nowadays. But, the pace was a bit faster back then, with about 5-10 more possessions for each team per game.

Well in the West in the 80s it was faster. In the East in the 80s the only team that really ran were the Hawks with Nique. Everybody else pretty much played grind it out half court basketball. Bulls had a team that could have been a up tempo team from 84-88 but they just didn't play that way.

The West did play faster than the East, but even so, the game was still played faster back then overall. The lowest amount of shot attempts a team put up in the '88 season was 6755 and the highest last year was 7211.

[Ghostown42]

No amount of hand checking is going to stop Curry from jacking 27 foot 3-pointers.

I think no defensive 3 seconds would hurt his penetration game.

[elmouse03]

The main thing that would affect Curry would be the handchecking rules. I mean, if you watch 80s basketball, you'll see PG's with their backs to the basket outside the 3 point line. You never see that nowadays. But, the pace was a bit faster back then, with about 5-10 more possessions for each team per game.

Well in the West in the 80s it was faster. In the East in the 80s the only team that really ran were the Hawks with Nique. Everybody else pretty much played grind it out half court basketball. Bulls had a team that could have been a up tempo team from 84-88 but they just didn't play that way.

The West did play faster than the East, but even so, the game was still played faster back then overall. The lowest amount of shot attempts a team put up in the '88 season was 6755 and the highest last year was 7211.

Team ball ftw.

[Ghostown42]

Jordan had a shorter 3 point line I think. No double teams too? Curry benefits from no hand checking.

Jordan had a shorter 3 point line only for 3 season, from 1995-1997. That doesn't even matter that much though, because Jordan's game did not involve the 3 pointer that much at all. And you could double team back then, just no zone defense. But also, there was no defensive 3 seconds. Jordan would destroy teams today without 7 footers dominating the lane constantly on defense the way they did back then.

That's all true, but it's still a very wide gap between 61% ts% and 70%. Also a wide gap between 34 minutes and 40 minutes. Equal rules would likely close some of the gap, but I don't see it closing all of it. But that's all speculation. It's a fact that Curry head and shoulders above everyone right now, as MJ was back then.

It's very difficult to speculate exactly how it would impact both of them.

[Ghostown42]

Hate to sound like this but what about the rules from Jordan's years to Curry's year?

The main thing that would affect Curry would be the handchecking rules. I mean, if you watch 80s basketball, you'll see PG's with their backs to the basket outside the 3 point line. You never see that nowadays. But, the pace was a bit faster back then, with about 5-10 more possessions for each team per game.

Well in the West in the 80s it was faster. In the East in the 80s the only team that really ran were the Hawks with Nique. Everybody else pretty much played grind it out half court basketball. Bulls had a team that could have been a up tempo team from 84-88 but they just didn't play that way.

The Bulls actually played more up tempo under Phil Jackson, but I think that was mainly due to better team defense, forcing more TO's for fastbreak points.

[elmouse03]

The main thing that would affect Curry would be the handchecking rules. I mean, if you watch 80s basketball, you'll see PG's with their backs to the basket outside the 3 point line. You never see that nowadays. But, the pace was a bit faster back then, with about 5-10 more possessions for each team per game.

Well in the West in the 80s it was faster. In the East in the 80s the only team that really ran were the Hawks with Nique. Everybody else pretty much played grind it out half court basketball. Bulls had a team that could have been a up tempo team from 84-88 but they just didn't play that way.

The Bulls actually played more up tempo under Phil Jackson, but I think that was mainly due to better team defense, forcing more TO's for fastbreak points.

Well I'm not saying teams in the East didn't run. They only ran when the opportunity presented itself. Bulls had 2 of the best finishers in the game on the break in Jordan and Pippen so you have to give them some opportunities to do so throughout the game.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I can't believe another season is almost done. Can't wait for those playoffs to start next week.

[elmouse03]

I can't believe another season is almost done. Can't wait for those playoffs to start next week.

[Robceltsfan]

I can't believe another season is almost done. Can't wait for those playoffs to start next week.

There aren't many signs that Steph is going to slow down. I just get the feeling that what we are seeing from him right now is going to be somewhat the norm throughout the season.

Same goes for the Warriors. I'd be shocked (SHOCKED) if they don't pull down 70 wins this year. 72 is in serious jeopardy.

[elmouse03]

I can't believe another season is almost done. Can't wait for those playoffs to start next week.

There aren't many signs that Steph is going to slow down. I just get the feeling that what we are seeing from him right now is going to be somewhat the norm throughout the season.

Same goes for the Warriors. I'd be shocked (SHOCKED) if they don't pull down 70 wins this year. 72 is in serious jeopardy.

You watch your mouth.

[876Stephen]

Also keep in mind, that curry is doing this in limited minutes in the flow of the offense. He lets his teammates shoot and create for themselves. He isn't a selfish player at all. People love playing for him.

[876Stephen]

I can't believe another season is almost done. Can't wait for those playoffs to start next week.

There aren't many signs that Steph is going to slow down. I just get the feeling that what we are seeing from him right now is going to be somewhat the norm throughout the season.

Same goes for the Warriors. I'd be shocked (SHOCKED) if they don't pull down 70 wins this year. 72 is in serious jeopardy.

I agree. It's not like they've been perfectly healthy. They were missing their starting center for a stretch early, and have been missing Harrison Barnes the last few games. Also, curry has had a few off nights, and a stretch where he wasn't shooting as much, and these are still his averages.

That being said, they've had two games that just as easily could have been losses as they were wins (nets, raptors). And while they have beat some good teams, they haven't had to play the Spurs or cavs yet. And the Spurs look extremely good.

Just like last year, the spurs are the only team that can stop us in the west. I'm generally worried about them.