Stephen Curry will be Rookie of the Year
Sat, Jun 27, 2009 by Adam Sedie
When the Golden State Warriors made Stephen Curry the 7th overall selection of the 2009 NBA Draft, Madison Square Garden erupted with booing and loud drones of disapproval. It was apparent why these fans howled in disdain: The best scoring prospect, capable of thriving in an up-tempo offense, will not be playing in New York next season. Instead, he will be thriving in Golden State’s run-and-gun offense.
Stephen Curry: NBA Rookie of the Year? (Credit: ESPN)
Don Nelson immediately addressed the media to muffle all trade rumors involving Curry as part of a multi-player deal to land Phoenix’s Amare Stoudamire:
Don Nelson has a reputation for being very tough on rookies, immediately yanking players for what he calls “dumb rookie mistakes”. Anthony Randolph is a great example of how a rookie can fall into Nellie’s doghouse swiftly. Randolph did not put forth the effort in practice that Nelson demanded, and quickly saw a dip in minutes during games. It was only after being mathematically eliminated from a playoff berth that Randolph saw the hardwood.
Based on Curry’s statements, the mentality ingrained into him by his father (16-year veteran Del Curry) will help him avoid such situations:
“I’m willing to learn and willing to take criticism and get something from it,” Curry said. “I know what I can do well and go out there and do it, and I’ll leave the rest to work itself out.” ESPN
Curry has all the crucial assets going for him to contend for Rookie of the Year.
He is a” lights out” shooter with unlimited range and great offensive creativity.
He is crafty beyond his years, and has a plethora of hesitation moves to shake defenders .
His off-ball movement and scoring impulses are excellent.
He fills passing lanes and finishes or passes to create shots for others.
His basketball IQ is the highest in the 2009 draft, and possibly the highest on Warriors roster.
He has a tenacious work ethic and his conditioning is strong.
Did we mention he is a “lights out” shooter?
Stephen Curry will have Warriors fans pumping their fists (Crdit: davissportsdelicom)
Stephen Curry’s conditioning, winning mentality, basketball IQ, clutch play, and NBA 3-point range are highlights of a solid NBA-ready resume–all attributes Don Nelson requires from of his guards. Having these intangibles will correlate directly to playing time. Based on these intangibles, Stephen Curry could very well start for the Warriors.
There is speculation how he and Monta Ellis can coexist as a back-court tandem for Golden State. Both have similar builds and styles of play. Neither of them are what you could call a true PG.
The unselfish attitude of Curry gives him distinct advantages over Ellis regarding the capacities of an effective point guard. He also appears to be a more vocal leader than Ellis, whom shies away from this role. Ellis has proven to be a black hole at times at the point. Offensive sets tend to start and finish with Ellis with few players getting touches.
Thay also differ most noticeably regarding their shooting range. Ellis simply cannot shoot the 3, while Curry is a long-range marksman. Curry seemingly possesses a dominant advantage when viewed through Don Nelson’s 3-point-lust-filled-eyes.
The bottom line is if these two players coexist, which is very possible, both should have solid seasons. Curry should see enough time to project anywhere from 15-17 PPG, 4-5 APG, a steal or two, and a very high FT%. Expect a high foul and turnover rate, but that usually is the case for any rookie in the NBA.
Curry has displayed his poise and leadership by putting a weak Davidson team on his back and carrying them to the NCAA tourney in 2008. Surround him with NBA talent and no more triple teams will only make his life easier.
Look to see Curry put the “Warrior” back into “Warriors” soon, capturing the hearts of fans at Oracle Arena, and across the globe.
Similar Posts:
- Stephen Curry vs. Tyreke Evans
- Stephen Curry’s Triple Double Destroys the Clippers
- Did Monta Ellis’ Moped Accident give him Brain Damage?
- Don Nelson: Don’t trade Anthony Randolph
- Golden State Warriors: New Look, Same Old Feel
That kid looks like he’s 14!!!! The warriors love getting super young talented players and then trading them when they finally start to produce!!!
This kid will be tearing the league apart by the time he looks 18. ROY in my opinion
the w’s know how to acquire offensive talent.
will he choose to play ‘d’ is the question.
The Warriors Defense is simply outscoring their opponent. Since this is true, Curry is already a strong defender by Warriors standards.
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