I vote shedding some weight. If he does this, it will enable him to be quicker of foot, which should help him get to the boards quicker, maybe block a few dozen extra shots or at least help him change a few shots by getting over to a help position quicker.

He needs measurable improvement in all those areas, but if I'd have to pick one I'd go with Swatting shots. I think thats his weakest area.

free throws & conditioning

folks- with as many touches as he gets on offense- the number one priority HAS to be passing/turn overs.

We don't need him to grab boards when David Lee is in the line up- or balkman.


Swatting shots? I just don't think he has it in him- he is never going to block a lot of shots- and I would argue he costs us more points by turning the ball over than he does in not blocking shots.

TMS- would agree on FTs- conditioning though I think has improved- though there are stretches during games that he is clearly tired.

Free throws, easy to work on. As Clyde says "It's just practice and confidence."

I think TMS is right though. He needs to continue working on his conditioning, and I don't just mean getting thinner. He really needs to get a cardio routine going, b/c I think that's the only way he can improve his defense and mindset. What kind of routine? NO CLUE. It needs to get done though. If he comes into camp in similar shape, and pretty much just worked on his offense, and he's still not playing the defense, then I think trading him really needs to be a priority.

In terms of his shotblocking, I can't kill him for this. It's something in you that you either have or don't have, and it's usually something reserved for people with long arms, some leaping ability or really really tall players. Those are three characteristics Curry doesn't have, which is fine. Therefore, it's our responsibility to go out and get a shotblocker The team's defense will be that much better off.

I'm not a Curry fan yet, but he improved some of the essentials of his offensive game this year, so that gives hope. I'll wait the Summer to see if he can get in shape and improve his defense now and concentrate a lot more on that (Especially cause we can assume Frye will work extra hard this Summer too) but again, if he doesn't improve his conditioning, the Curry trade crys will be coming out of me fast and hard.

Eddy's #33 on the list of top rebounders by average, but he's about on the level of some of the SF's on the list of the top 50 rebounders in his per 48 minute ratio. i think if he drops about 15 lbs in the offseason & works on his cardio, his rebounding #'s will go up a little, but don't expect him ever to be a stud rebounding presence.

ALL OF THE ABOVE. He's a one-dimensional fat blob.

Energy and effort. No more running back on D as soon as a shot goes up. No more watching penetrators. No more. Effort, effort, effort.

The above would be my first choice, but as far as skills he needs to improve passing out of the double teams and free throw shooting. Those are the areas that will help our team the most. Rebounding is not as important just becasue we are a good rebounding team. Shotblocking I just don't ever see him being a great one. Taht will have to come from some where else.

eddie does'nt need to be a stud defender/shotblocker, he just needs to be a little more visible to opposing players. he's insible, players go at him like he's even not there. that and blocking out, i'd be allright w/him avging 6-7reb so long as long he boxes out his man. we're a good rebounding team so i don't worry too much about that, but if he could limit the free passes to the basket they can hold players to the outside.

[Edited by - daddynel on 03-19-2007 5:28 PM]

boards. if he took it upon himself to own the boards, it would change everything. he'd be more active and involved on the defensive end, and on the offensive end he'd probably add an easy 5 points per game and get his man in foul trouble.

Posted by kam77:

It sounds like people most want Curry to be a force defensively either with blocks or rebounds. And that perhaps simply shedding some weight and more seasoning with the asst coaches will help this come about.

Not much concern about passing? Would we all forgive Eddy is he just lost weight and showed more hustle on his man and on the defensive glass?

The keyword there Kam is that you said "MORE" because right now Curry doesn't show ANY. I want Curry to take playing defense seriously and part of defense is defensive rebounding. I feel if Curry is in the game and showing some serious effort with rebounding, he will be more energized and that will lead to better shotblocking and better help defense. JMHO