I thought of a better word this morning than "haunted" for how I interpret LeBron James' feelings about Curry and the "Warriors": "tormented." Last night the "Warriors" played in Charlotte where Stephen's father Dell (Or "'Ell,' no D,") was the original "Hornet." They honored Dell at halftime. The "Warriors" won, 20th straight, Stephen had forty points and a ridiculous shooting percentage. Watched the Curry highlights this morning...There are a lot of guys who could hit forty against the "Hornets" the way that they played efense, no d. However, be that as it may, Curry hit some three-point shots at a distance I had only seen previously in "Horse," warmups, or desperation heaves. If I remember correctly he hit three from what they estimated at 28 1/2 feet away, 6 1/2 feet beyond the line. It was absurd. He scored twenty-four straight points in the third quarter...twenty-four...and finished with forty. It was absurd.
Comes now fivethirtyeight:
Despite this, I’ve been a tiny bit skeptical of the notion that the 3-point shot is inherently superior. I’m not anti-three the way Byron Scott is, but I’ve suggested that the midrange game — which has historically been a strong indicator of success in the NBA — might still be important once defenses adjust to the new offensive math and a new equilibrium is reached.
But Curry kills all that. Curry isn’t a product of the math; he’s so good that he has his own math. Indeed, the math is so far in Curry’s favor that the Warriors — and even basketball in general — may not fully understand what they have yet.
...
The deeper you dive into the data, the more you realize that Curry isn’t just a deadly efficient shooter, but he’s also VIRTUALLY IMMUNE TO BURDEN. As he has been asked to produce more and more, he hasn’t gotten any less efficient. (Economists would say Curry has nearly constant1 returns to scale.) [emphasis added. LeBron James is NOT immune to burden.]
...
I could rattle off a couple of stats and make a guess, but as my sanity depends on this, I didn’t want to take it casually. So I’ve examined the issue from a number of angles, including a foray into the NBA’s latest tracking data.2
...
... the data doesn’t show even the tiniest hint that Curry is anywhere near his limits yet.
...
This year, Curry is making his 2014-15 MVP season seem practically pedestrian. [That's the year Curry beat LBJ for MVP and beat LBJ in the Finals. Curry's making that year look "pedestrian." Fuck me.]
...
Curry’s bad shots are better than others’ good shots
Okay, seriously that is enough. LeBron James is the best basketball player I have ever seen and as good a person. But I have not seen Stephen Curry. LeBron James has and this is what torments James. James is still at the peak of his talent, he took on an enormous burden in returning to Cleveland, is obsessed with winning a title for the region where he grew up, believes (along with nearly everyone else) that he would have won a title but for injuries to Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, but...But comes now Stephen Curry in this new season, James' season of "urgency," and the "Warriors" are playing with joy and are 20-0; Curry can take on an even heavier "burden," and James did not believe joyful basketball won championships; is struggling (a little bit) with the heaviest burden; Curry, seriously, is only getting better and James is not getting better, and...And, and, and. It torments James.
We are all witnesses.
Comes now fivethirtyeight:
Despite this, I’ve been a tiny bit skeptical of the notion that the 3-point shot is inherently superior. I’m not anti-three the way Byron Scott is, but I’ve suggested that the midrange game — which has historically been a strong indicator of success in the NBA — might still be important once defenses adjust to the new offensive math and a new equilibrium is reached.
But Curry kills all that. Curry isn’t a product of the math; he’s so good that he has his own math. Indeed, the math is so far in Curry’s favor that the Warriors — and even basketball in general — may not fully understand what they have yet.
...
The deeper you dive into the data, the more you realize that Curry isn’t just a deadly efficient shooter, but he’s also VIRTUALLY IMMUNE TO BURDEN. As he has been asked to produce more and more, he hasn’t gotten any less efficient. (Economists would say Curry has nearly constant1 returns to scale.) [emphasis added. LeBron James is NOT immune to burden.]
...
I could rattle off a couple of stats and make a guess, but as my sanity depends on this, I didn’t want to take it casually. So I’ve examined the issue from a number of angles, including a foray into the NBA’s latest tracking data.2
...
... the data doesn’t show even the tiniest hint that Curry is anywhere near his limits yet.
...
This year, Curry is making his 2014-15 MVP season seem practically pedestrian. [That's the year Curry beat LBJ for MVP and beat LBJ in the Finals. Curry's making that year look "pedestrian." Fuck me.]
...
Curry’s bad shots are better than others’ good shots
...
But it gets crazier
...
Crazy enough for me, I didn't read anymore.
But it gets crazier
...
Crazy enough for me, I didn't read anymore.
...
Only one Warrior defies the laws of efficiency
Okay, I read a little bit more.
There are some shots only Curry can make
...
No, seriously, Curry is getting better
Only one Warrior defies the laws of efficiency
Okay, I read a little bit more.
There are some shots only Curry can make
...
No, seriously, Curry is getting better
Every article about every great young athlete ever seems to end with “And he’s just getting better and better” — even though this often isn’t true. So let me end this one with, “No, seriously, he really is getting better and better.”
Okay, seriously that is enough. LeBron James is the best basketball player I have ever seen and as good a person. But I have not seen Stephen Curry. LeBron James has and this is what torments James. James is still at the peak of his talent, he took on an enormous burden in returning to Cleveland, is obsessed with winning a title for the region where he grew up, believes (along with nearly everyone else) that he would have won a title but for injuries to Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, but...But comes now Stephen Curry in this new season, James' season of "urgency," and the "Warriors" are playing with joy and are 20-0; Curry can take on an even heavier "burden," and James did not believe joyful basketball won championships; is struggling (a little bit) with the heaviest burden; Curry, seriously, is only getting better and James is not getting better, and...And, and, and. It torments James.
We are all witnesses.