To-Do List for Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry to Return Better Next Season
Steph Curry lit up the scoreboard and the national fans’ attention spans with dominant playoff performances, but he still has a to-do list to become even better next season.
Curry is arguably the best pure shooter in today’s NBA game, and he will work to improve on his shot selection and his ability to move off screens, since he is now one of the top 10 players in the Association.
With him propelling into stardom, teams will be focusing on limiting his movement and forcing him into close quarters. Curry will need to break through double-teams, use his brilliant ball-handling skills and use his vision to create opportunities for him and his teammates.
Getting Stronger
The first item on his to-do list is to get stronger and strengthen both of his ankles. As you can remember from the playoffs, he hurt his non-surgically repaired ankle, and it significantly limited his mobility in the San Antonio series.
The strength will help Curry play and grind out the extra minutes that he will be playing next season. The stronger each ankle gets from conditioning and hours in the weight room, the better off he will be going into the late season and the playoffs.
He can’t majorly bulk up, or he will lose some of his quickness, but if he can add strength to his frame, he can continue to drive to the center of the court and take on other teams’ bigs. He has perfected his floater as you can see in the video below.
Curry is very creative when he drives to the basket, but the major missing ingredient is that he doesn’t get the fouls and hasn’t generated enough trips to the line.
Finding His Way to the Foul Line
If he can start getting the fouls, and his rising ascension around the league will help, Curry is a deadly shooter at the charity stripe. He shot 90 percent from the line, but he only earned 291 free throws, ranking him 42nd in the league and 12th versus point guards with an average of 3.7 attempts per game.
When he became the “guy” in the playoffs, Curry only averaged 3.2 free throws per game. Yes, he converted at a 92.1 percent rate, but he could have used at least four or five more free trips. In the same number of games (12), Memphis Grizzlies’ point guard Mike Conley has averaged 6.8 attempts per game.
The strength will help show the league that Curry isn’t someone who is afraid of the contact and won’t always be in a position to pass the ball when contact is near. However, he is a very creative passer, as evidenced by his assist to Carl Landry below.
Curry dribbles around and draws the defenders up before he spots Landry near the baseline. He lofts a pass that only Landry can catch, and Landry converts on the play.
Increasing His Assists
Passing is a strength of his game, but he needs to continue to develop the skill before the start of next season. Curry needs to have a 360-degree awareness at all times, so that he can make transition passes, start the pick-and-roll with Andrew Bogut or David Lee and find the open man when he draws more than one defender.
The focus on passing will further enhance his shooting ability, because defenders will have to react to Curry, instead of focusing on just his shot or his dribble-drive penetration. Curry can’t fall into the habit of just relying on his shooting ability.
During the season, Curry averaged 6.9 APG, which ranked him 13th among point guards. In the playoffs, he stepped it up a notch as he dished out 8.1 dimes per game. If he can bring that type of consistency to next season, he is one step closer to becoming one of the league’s best players.
Limiting the Turnovers
Curry has outstanding ball-handling skills, but he can give up easy turnovers here and there. The ankle problems have increased the occasional turnover at times, but this is one area that he really needs to focus on this summer.
He finished the season ranked tied for 180th place in the NBA with former Warrior Monta Ellis by committing 3.1 turnovers per game. Yes, Curry has the ball in his hands more than most players, but he finished tied for 39th place out of 43 point guards.
He can’t force the ball when nobody is open. He needs to survey the floor and kick the ball back to a wing or Andrew Bogut, if he is hanging out near the top of the arc.
On this play, Curry has the ball batted away, which leads to an easy conversion by the San Antonio Spurs.
Combining his assists with his turnovers, Curry has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.25, which ranks him 35th among point guards. Top-tier point guard, Chris Paul has an AST/TO ratio of 4.26.
If he can increase his assists and lower his turnovers, Curry will help the Warriors win more close games and pad his star status.
Becoming More of a Defensive Presence
Coach Mark Jackson and assistant coach Mike Malone have reinvented the culture of the Warriors with an intense defensive focus. Curry is a good defender, but there is a lot of room for improvement.
Hopefully with a full offseason without any surgery, Curry can improve his lateral quickness. Against the Spurs, he didn’t have what it took since he was hobbled by his ankles.
Tony Parker dribbles around Curry, gets him off balance and forces him to reach with the foul. As you can see from the remainder of the highlights, Curry is running very slowly and he can’t use his legs to break through the screens.
When he returns next season, he will need to use his new strength and quickness to get between his man and the basket, while he breaks through and avoids players trying to shield him from the play.
He needs to be more effective off the ball where he can fill passing lanes to deflect passes and be in the right position for medium to long rebounds. He also needs to finish plays and not give up if the ball isn’t in his vicinity for a period of time.
Ideally, he should have a sit-down with Chris Mullin, who was known for wearing out his opponents on both sides of the floor.
Curry has a solid foundation in place, and if he can strengthen and condition his body during the summer, he will be an even better player next season. He can isolate and pay particular attention to his weaknesses, Curry could very well move into MVP consideration.
We saw during Game 1 versus the Spurs what Curry can provide.
If Curry can provide this type of consistent play all season, his teammates will benefit from an open floor, and the win total should continue to increase. He can also become a certified All-Star and build on the Warriors’ championship dreams.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Ranking the 10 Best NCAA Basketball Backcourts for 2013-14 Season
Last season was the year of the guards.
The best backcourt in the country, Michigan’s Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr., carried their team to the national championship game. You could argue the second-best backcourt ended up winning the national title.
So if you’re trying to predict what will happen in 2014, it’s a good idea to take a look at the backcourts. These are the best 10.
All advanced stats used in this piece come from KenPom.com (subscription needed).
View full post on Bleacher Report – College Basketball
10 College Basketball Teams Most Likely to Overachieve in 2013-14 Season
Every year there are a handful of teams that make those of us who make preseason polls look really dumb.
So in an effort to allow ourselves the ability to say “we told you so,” this is a prediction of those teams that we shouldn’t be overlooking.
You’ll notice a trend. Most of these programs are coached by men who have made a career of turning preseason rankings into confetti.
View full post on Bleacher Report – College Basketball
10 College Basketball Teams Loaded with Experienced Players for 2013-14 Season
One senior started in the national championship game in 2013. The year before, Kentucky won the title with one senior in its rotation, and KU’s Tyshawn Taylor was the only senior to start in the title game.
The one-and-done rule has changed the way some champions are built, but given the option, coaches still want some experience. Talented experience is even better.
Kentucky’s baby burger boys will be the story in the preseason, but by March, we’ll hear plenty about the guys who have prolonged their stay.
The mid-majors who crash the party are typically chock-full of them. A few contenders among the big boys also have a good share of upperclassmen next season.
Here are 10 long-toothed rosters to keep an eye on.
View full post on Bleacher Report – College Basketball
New York Knicks: Reliving the Top Moments of the 2012-13 NBA Season
The New York Knicks’ magical season, along with the team’s hope of a championship, collapsed Saturday night in a Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2012-13 NBA playoffs.
New York should have beaten Indiana. The Knicks had the deeper roster, more experience and the best player on the court in Carmelo Anthony. While the outcome of this series can be largely attributed to the Knicks’ offensive struggles, a great deal of praise needs to be given to the Pacers team that outhustled, outworked and outplayed New York.
Lance Stephenson and Paul George are emerging as stars for Frank Vogel’s team, but the Knicks already have a bona-fide superstar. Roy Hibbert abused Tyson Chandler on the low block all series, but Chandler came into this season as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. J.R. Smith, the 2012-13 Sixth Man of the Year, shot 28.9 percent from the field in the Eastern Conference semifinals, while D.J. Augustin came off the bench and averaged 8.2 points per game on 50 percent shooting.
There is no excuse for losing this series, and it’s going to be a long offseason filled with questions for Mike Woodson and the Knicks. However, while the team came up shorter than it wanted to in the postseason, New York had a phenomenal season overall.
With battle-tested veterans like Jason Kidd and older rookies like Chris Copeland (28 years old) and Pablo Prigioni (37 years old), the Knicks had the oldest roster in NBA history. Woodson never got the chance to work with a full squad as injuries decimated the team at nearly every position. The team rose together, and now they have fallen together—no one person is to blame for their success or their failure.
Looking back on it, New York really did have an amazing season. Here are some of the best moments of 2012-13 for the Knicks.
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Amar’e Stoudemire Questions Role with New York Knicks After Disappointing Season
Amar’e Stoudemire wants answers.
After appearing in just 33 games this season (playoffs included), the New York Knicks superstar-turned-injury-riddled-disappointment wants to know where he stands within the organization.
Following New York’s season-ending 106-99 Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers, he said he plans to sit down with head coach Mike Woodson and get his answers.
“We didn’t give it a chance,” Stoudemire said of re-entering the starting lineup (via Marc Berman of the New York Post). “We need to understand exactly what my style of play is and what I bring to the table. It’s something I have to sit down with Coach Woody and express to him.”
If Stoudemire seems frustrated, that’s because he is.
Not only was he forced to battle through knee injuries all season, but he saw himself relegated to a seventh-man role and in for a total of 13 minutes in New York’s final two games against the Pacers. For a six-time All-Star, that has to be difficult to stomach.
My advice to him, though? Stomach it. I’ve been one of Stoudemire’s biggest supporters all year, but even I’ll admit he’s not in a position of power here.
Stoudemire has embodied a “team-first” mantra all season. He embraced his role as a reserve and willingly handed the reins of the Knicks over to Carmelo Anthony. He’s made sacrifices. Boatloads of them. And it’s only natural for him to be upset and confused.
But he has to understand that these were the playoffs. The Knicks didn’t have time for him to play through his rust the way he needed to, let alone insert him into the starting lineup. That just wasn’t an option.
If Stoudemire weren’t a former All-Star earning nearly $20 million this year, he probably wouldn’t have played at all. He should think about that.
Leading into next season, Stoudemire is right, the specifics of his role need to be discussed. He’s owed more than $45 million over the next two seasons, so he’s not going anywhere. The Knicks will have to find a place for him in the rotation, and he needs to know where it’s going to be.
But now? After this loss? Before New York’s roster for next season is even close to etched in stone? The Knicks can’t offer him that type of clarity.
The futures of J.R. Smith, Chris Copeland, Jason Kidd and Pablo Prigioni all need to be determined before the Knicks make any definitive decisions about next season. Free-agency and trade dust needs to settle before Amar’e can get any answers. And more light needs to be shed on his health before he begins to lodge any inquiries.
“It’s alright—as long as we won the game,” Stoudemire previously said about his Game 5 benching. “That’s all that matters.”
All that matters now is that Stoudemire remain patient. He’s not the only one with questions.
The Knicks have plenty of their own.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Amar’e Stoudemire Questions Role with NY Knicks After Disappointing Season
Amar’e Stoudemire wants answers.
After appearing in just 33 games this season (playoffs included), the New York Knicks superstar turned injury-riddled disappointment wants to know where he stands within the organization. And following New York’s season-ending Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers, he said he plans to sit down with head coach Mike Woodson and get his answers.
“We didn’t give it a chance,’’ Stoudemire said of re-entering the starting lineup (via Marc Berman of the New York Post). “We need to understand exactly what my style of play is and what I bring to the table. It’s something I have to sit down with Coach Woody and express to him.’’
If Stoudemire seems frustrated, that’s because he is.
Not only was he forced to battle through knee injuries all season, but he saw himself relegated to a seventh-man role and benched entirely in New York’s final two games against the Pacers. For a six-time All-Star, that has to be difficult to stomach.
My advice to him, though? Stomach it. I’ve been one of Stoudemire’s biggest supporters all year, but even I’ll admit he’s not in a position of power here.
Stoudemire has embodied a “team-first” mantra all season. He embraced his role as a reserve and willingly handed the reins of the Knicks over to Carmelo Anthony. He’s made sacrifices. Boatloads of them. And it’s only natural for him to be upset and confused.
But he has to understand that these were the playoffs. The Knicks didn’t have time for him to play through his rust the way he needed to, let alone insert him into the starting lineup. That just wasn’t an option.
If Stoudemire weren’t a former All-Star earning nearly $20 million this year, he probably wouldn’t have played at all. He should think about that.
Leading into next season, Stoudemire is right, the specifics of his role need to be discussed. He’s owed more than $45 million over the next two seasons, so he’s not going anywhere. The Knicks will have to find a place for him in the rotation, and he needs to know where it’s going to be.
But now? After this loss? Before New York’s roster for next season is even close to etched in stone? The Knicks can’t offer him that type of clarity.
The futures of J.R. Smith, Chris Copeland, Jason Kidd and Pablo Prigioni all need to be determined before the Knicks make any definitive decisions about next season. Free agency and trade dust needs to settle before Amar’e can get any answers. And more light needs to be shed on his health before he begins to lodge any inquiries.
“It’s alright—as long as we won the game,” Stoudemire previously said about his Game 5 benching. “That’s all that matters.’’
All that matters now is that Stoudemire remain patient. He’s not the only one with questions.
The Knicks have plenty of their own.
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
View full post on Bleacher Report – NBA
Ranking the 10 Most Talented College Basketball Teams for 2013-14 Season
College basketball fans: we are five months away from preseason practices and exhibition games.
Coaches and their staffs have been working tirelessly since the close of the 2012-13 season to bring in more talented players and begin to develop them during the offseason.
Let’s take a quick look at the the 10 most-talented college basketball teams.
View full post on Bleacher Report – College Basketball
Thunder season fades fast after Westbrook injury (Yahoo! Sports)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The way Kevin Martin describes it, the Oklahoma City Thunder lost the ”vision” of a potential championship run the morning they learned All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook would be out for the rest of the postseason.
View full post on Yahoo! Sports – NBA News
Captivating season gives Warriors hope for future (Yahoo! Sports)
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Rookie forward Draymond Green walked out of Golden State’s practice facility Friday holding a yellow ”We Are Warriors” shirt, taking home the small souvenir to savor the team’s captivating playoff run.
View full post on Yahoo! Sports – NBA News
