FanPost

Steph Curry: Upside?!

I know alot of people have been giving Keith Smart a lot of hate for his inconsistent rotations and the organization for hyping up the season that was lost pretty much as soon as David Lee went down with the arm injury from hell but what really irritates me is the way they are developing our franchise player and NO I am not talking about Monta Ellis everyone. Regardless of the statistics or whatever one may look at Stephen Curry IS OUR FRANCHISE PLAYER and will be apart of this core for the next ten plus years as I guarantee if they had really thought about shopping Steph this passed trade deadline he would've been traded. Steph has the potential in my estimation to be one of the top "Lead" Guards in this league before his career is through:

Stephen_curry_golden_state_warriors_v_phoenix_gislnqckesol_medium

(He's wondering when will he have full control of this team?!!)


Height w/o Shoes Height w/shoes Weight Wingspan Standing Reach Body Fat No Step Vert Max Vert Bench Press Lane Agility 3/4 Court Sprint Class Rank
6' 2" 6' 3.25" 181 6' 3.5" 8' 1" 5.7 29.5 35.5 10 11.07 3.28 NA

PROS: Unlike most point guards that come into the league very young with a very low basketball IQ, Steph came into the league with a fundamentally sounded game along with the intangibles (consistency, professionalism, ability to learn) needed to be successful. Looking at Steph's pre-draft measurements you may think he compares nicely to those faster point guards in the league but when you watch him play you'd beg it different. I think differently with Steph is that he knows when and when not to use his "athleticism" which is why he will become great as his game is nearly complete already on the offensive side of the ball. Also, people tend to forget that Curry just turned 23 and this is about the same time guards like Rajon Rondo & Chris Paul became elites in this league and that he is only a few months older than other great young guards in the league today like Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, & Eric Gordon and is younger than O.J. Mayo so he has just enough time to develop as those four guys. The sky is the limit for Steph if developed correctly.

CONS: HE IS NOT GETTING THE RIGHTFULLY DESERVED CHANCE TO PLAY AS THE LEAD GUARD ON HIS TEAM. Whenever Steph is in the game he either defers to Monta because he is the "veteran" or he's not in the game at all because Keith Smart would rather play Acie Law over him as he is a "veteran." Steph has the correct attitude in order to succeed in the NBA but he doesn't always use it correctly. Steph must use his basic knowledge of defense of stay in front of his man instead of trying to play the "reach-in game" hoping the ball is turned over before a foul is called. On the offensive end, He seems to become hesitant after a mistake as he seems afraid he will be pulled out of the game because they have a coach that does not believe in "developing on the job." Curry must get the confidence he had in Mar-Apr '10 back for his minor soph. slump to end.

ON A SIDE NOTE: Also, deep down it's obvious Stephen Curry knows that he is the best ball handler on the team yet his "respect" for the veterans is not letting him display it as he happens to defer to them more than they should. I happen to wonder if Curry is waiting for Monta to be traded or somewhat so that he knows this team is guaranteed to be his own. I mean, Keith Smart named him, Lee, and Ellis his captain because the captain should be "a model of the coach" so why bench Curry after a couple of lapses when the other two "captains" tend to do the same? As a young player, Curry needs consistency and coach with patience in a lost season in order to develop correctly into an elite player and in Smart's system he will never receive it.

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!