Here are 3 stats that show just how good Stephen Curry has been so far
The reigning MVP is a force the NBA has never before seen. His approach to the game is changing basketball and illuminating just how devastating the 3-pointer can be in the right hands. Yet there are still those who doubt his dominance. So if you find yourself in an argument with someone who doesn't appreciate Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, share these three things with them, courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN.com), to prove just how special Golden State really is.
1. Curry's doing things equaled by only Jordan and the Big O
Let's start with the areas where Curry has at least some equals. Through the first six games of 2015-16, Curry has tallied 213 points, 32 rebounds and 39 assists. The only players to reach 200 points, 30 rebounds and 30 assists in their teams' first six games in a season are Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson. Jordan did it twice, in 1989-90 and 1991-92, while Robertson achieved the milestone in 1965-66. But that's it. LeBron James never did it. Larry Bird never did it. Magic Johnson never did it. Curry, who stands several inches shorter than either Jordan or Robertson, is off to one of the most well-rounded starts in NBA history.
It's worth pausing for a moment to point out the rebounding number. One might wonder if Curry is "stealing" rebounds from teammates, and to some extent, that's the case. But if you watch the Warriors regularly, you know that there's a method to the madness. Often, if Curry is in the vicinity of a defensive rebound, his bigger teammates will clear out the space around the ball and let Curry grab it. That way, his one-man fastbreak is off to a roaring start without the big man having to gather the rebound and get it to Curry. If Curry's already in transition, of course, he won't slow things to come back for the rebound. But the Warriors are very good about letting their point guard get the ball to take off with a full head of steam.
2. Literally no one can touch Curry's 3-point shooting
And in the end, it all comes down to Curry's magical ability to drill what for other players would be awful shots, doesn't it? Curry's made 36 3-pointers through the first six games; according to Elias, no one's ever made that many to start a season. Heck, only two players in NBA history have made at least 36 triples in any six-game span, and both of those players (Dennis Scott and George McCloud) did so when the 3-point line was shortened to 22 feet in the 1995-96 season. In a related note, the 1995-96 season is tied for the highest 3-point field goal percentage across the NBA, when players on average made 36.7 percent of their attempts.
3. Warriors are beating teams at a historic rate
Golden State isn't perfect. If the Warriors could have scored just one more point during their 6-0 start this season, they'd be beating teams by an average of 20 points per game. Instead, they'll have to settle for a +119 scoring margin so far. Only one team in the past 40-plus years has jumped out of the gate so strongly, according to Elias. The 2008-09 Lakers also outscored their first six opponents by 119 points, tied with the Warriors for the third-best team start in NBA history. The 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers and 1971-72 Milwaukee Bucks won their first six games by 128 total points.
It's a pretty good indication of championship contention. Both the 2009 Lakers and 1967 Sixers won NBA titles. The 1972 Bucks came up short, however, falling to the Lakers in the Western Conference finals.
Do you see what happens when you insinuate that the Warriors were lucky, NBA folks? You unleash the Curry. This could have been avoided.
Then again, we're kind of glad it's happening -- because it's really fun to watch.
(h/t ESPN.com)
