Take this for what you will.

From Chad Ford's chat today -

tom (San Diego): Any word on Steph Curry declaring?

Chad Ford: I think ultimately he declares. It's a great opportunity for him this year. Weak draft and the Knicks love him. That's a perfect fit for him. If he goes back to college and doesn't dominate against better competition, he could slide. However, I really respect that he loves school and basketball isn't his life. But that doesn't help his draft stock either.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=26096

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If Thabeet wasn't there, and we don't have a top 3 pick, then I wouldn't be dissapointed if we took him. He scares me on the defensive end though, A LOT.

Far from the only one fishmike,

I've been advocating Curry for a while. Agree with your points

I wonder about his defense too, but If he can come in and run the point effectively, not in the Nate sense of way, I wouldn't mind it. But if he is drafted as a 2 and only a 2, we've got some serious problems.

I think Billups was a SG in college and one could argue that he is one of the best PGs today.

Set The Way Back Machine for 2001

Tony Parker from France (28th pick)

Now

Stephon Curry?





[Edited by - misterearl on 04-22-2009 10:51 AM]

He needs to work on his body. I thought his 3 point shot went slightly south with the line moved back--perhaps a sign of a lack of leg strength. Chris Paul was kind of skinny and put on nice muscle--thats what Curry has to do. Curry is the cerebral type player--he knows the game with a high IQ and has a variety of moves to separate from his defender. That being said I would say that he had problems with stronger faster athletes this year and was able to be taken out of his game rhythm. He did transition over to the 1 guard this year and actually played the 1 better earlier in the year compared to later. A good passer not a great passer but has good vision. Only a fair ballhandler. He does make a lot of risky type passes--perhaps due to his first year playing the position. Sneaky quick and sneaky good on the D and taller than what he looks like on TV--[rod strickland disease] Lacks great speed explosion and strength. Is a very good rebounder for a guard. It all depends on whether they believe he can play PG.

[Edited by - BRIGGS on 04-22-2009 10:57 AM]

[Edited by - BRIGGS on 04-22-2009 12:19 PM]

Posted by fishmike:

he's not going to be a good defensive player. Thats all there is to it. But he's got as high a BB IQ as any player. He plays hard and smart. He's a winner and fierce competitor. He's a team guy. He's a coaches dream.

He's not going to be the player you build around, but put him in the right position and he's a guy that can be a very big part of a winning team IMO.

Not all players, especially late lottery guys are going to be stars. There is no shame in taking a guy thats only going to be good.

Memphis took heat for taking a 'low upside' player in Battier over better 'prospects' like Rodney White (a guy Briggs coveted) and Diop. Guy turned out to be a hell of a player in this league.

good point fish.. every year, every lottery team, thinks they are drafting a star.. well every year, the draft may not have a star player in it... I just want good players, who can play, and play the right way...

Posted by BRIGGS:

He needs to work on his body. I thought his 3 point shot went slightly south with the line moved back--perhaps a sign of a lack of leg strength. Chris Paul was kind of skinny and put on nice muscle--thats what Curry has to do. Curry is the cerebral type player--he knows the game with a high IQ and has a variety of moves to seperate from his defender. That being said I would say that he had problems with stronger faster athletes this year and was able to be taken out of his game rhythm. He did transition over to the 1 guard this year and actually played the 1 better earlier in the year compared to later. A good passer not a great passer but has good vision. He does make a lot of risky type passes--perhaps due to his first year playing the position. Sneaky quick and sneaky good on the D and taller than what he looks like on TV--[rod strickland disease] Lacks great speed explosion and strength. Is a very good rebounder for a guard. It all depends on whether they believe he can play PG.

[Edited by - BRIGGS on 04-22-2009 10:57 AM]

I think your Curry scouting report is pretty accurate.

I do think analyzing him as a point is made more difficult because of the team he played on. He had very few options on that team and defenses knew it. In addition he also knew that his team needed him to score to stay in games.

I fully expect his strength to improve measureably and his outside shot will be the LAST thing he has to worry about. His father was the best (& quickest) long range shooter I've ever seen and that includes guys like Reggie Miller and Ray Allen.

D'Antoni's system is perfect because it pushes the pace (Curry's weakness is half-court) and Mike always frees the point guard with the high screen. If you put a smart player like Curry in a situation where the defense has to think for a split second he will beat them the large majority of the time.

His passing was sometimes sloppy this year -- he was often casual with passes but he does show a very strong left hand on layups, off the dribble and on passes.

He's very cerebral and he won't back down from BIG SHOTS those may be the biggest keys.

Posted by NYKPHINS:

He's one of the hardest prospects in this draft to project. That said, while he isn't my top choice I would be fine with taking him. He has the skills to be a good NBA point guard, along with the leadership and basketball IQ that this team needs. His lack of atheticism is scary, but D'antoni's system really does not require elite athleticism from it's pg (Nash is many things, but he's not very athletic). When you look at Nash in this system, the skills that made him a great match were his passing, outside shooting, and IQ. Not at all comparing Curry to Nash, but he does have the skills to be very good in this system.

Not sure if this has been posted here yet, but here's and interesting breakdown of Curry by Bobby Knight:



He does take it too far. I think Curry is more of a very good passer with great court vision than the all time great passer Knight makes him out to be...still an interesting perspective.

JVG also said he was the best passer in college, and Mark jackson dissagreed.... I think curry is a great passer. Not flashy, just effective...