Steph isn't the only one struggling
In an MVP season, Steph's three-pointers aren't going in at Steph levels. But he's not the only superstar having a down year...
Steph Curry hasn't quite been himself this season. The NBA's all-time three-point king — who has never shot under 40% from distance in any full season of his professional career — is hitting only 38.4% of his long balls this year.
Through his first 23 games, Steph was his usual spit-out-your-milk self, dropping in 9 triples on three separate occasions, averaging 5.5 made threes a night and hitting at a healthy 41.6% clip.
In the 14 games since he's been in quite the slump, shooting a James Harden-like 33.1% from distance. He even air-balled two fairly clean looks in Memphis a couple of nights ago. During his last 4 games, the numbers will scare your dad: Curry is shooting an abysmal 31.3% from the field and 20.5% from deep. Somehow, the Warriors are 2-2 in those games.
While his three point rate over the last 14 games is nearly 10% lower than his career average, 33.1% happens to be Harden's three point percentage this present season. Harden's rate is down 3.1% from his serviceable but unimpressive 36.2% career average.
But he's not the only high-wattage shooter who has struggled with his outside shot this season. A host of additional NBA stars have seen drop-offs even more significant than Curry and Harden. Check this out:
Steph (rightly) generates the buzz — he's the best shooter to walk the earth and he's in the midst of the biggest slump of his career. But his current rate of 38.4% is as good or better than everyone else's career mark on this list.
Harden's Nets remain contenders due to the intergalactic sublimity of Kevin Durant, but the errant shooting of the other men on this list help explain the floundering of their respective teams. That and the overall unpredictability of another COVID-infused season mixed with a greater allowance for physical defense.
It seems like Bradley Beal missed what Westbrook had to offer, so he decided to mirror his old teammates' outside shooting ability. His Wizards, despite their strong start, have sputtered to nearly .500 (21-20) and sit in 9th place in the East. Paul George and the LA JV team are actually .500 (21-21) as they weather the loss of Kawhi Leonard in 8th place out West. The Clips are, however, only 2 games out of 5th place in the jumbled bottom of the West. Lillard and the Blazers are staring down a lost season, sitting in 10th place out West (16-24) as they prep for more time without their star. Dame hasn't played since New Year's eve, and the Blazers are 4-7 without him.
Curry and the Warriors? They're doing just fine, despite their recent wobbles. In years past, the Warriors pushed out to leads and tried not to give up too much ground when Steph sat. With added depth this season — and now the joyously triumphant return of Klay Thompson — Golden State is quite comfortable playing the long game.And if the Warriors look this good when Steph Curry is quite literally having his worst shooting season ever, just imagine what happens when his long game ticks back toward his career averages.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT…
Believe it or not, this is real:
You're reading that right. In under 12 minutes of action, the Nets capitalized on a 43-8 run against the East-leading Chicago Bulls. Kevin Durant finished with a game-high 27 points, while Harden chipped in 25 points and 16 assists.
Is Kevin Durant the MVP candidate hiding in plain sight? Many would choose him if the season ended today, but the Warriors' dominance (even in a down Steph year) has propelled #30 to the lead as far as narrative is concerned. My vote would go to KD, as he's a guaranteed 27 & 6 assists at this point and hasn't turned in a bad performance yet.
One last quip from the Nets, who are ha ha so funny:
If your team is on a winning streak, and you lose to the Sacramento Kings... the streak never happened.
In the last three games, Westbrook is averaging 7.7 points, 10 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. That's weird. He's also shooting 20% from the floor on 13.3 attempts per game.
The Kings looked like an awesome basketball team. That's great! It's too bad they're going to trade for Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris:
Who's the only team that would do that? Sacramento, who can trade Hield, Haliburton, Barnes, and some other stuff and get it done.
SCORES, STATS, AND NOTES
Celtics 119, Pacers 100 — Boston gets a much-needed blowout win, thanks to the star duo: Both Tatum and Brown finished 11-19 from the field, combining for 67 points. Schroder was the only other Celtic in double figures (23 points).
Hornets 109, Sixers 98 — Joel Embiid's first lost to Charlotte, ever. He started 13-0 vs. the Hornets, but fell victim to Gordon Hayward's hot first half: 22 points, 9-9 from the field.
Wizards 112, Magic 106 — Kyle Kuzma has been... awesome this year? He was one assist away from a triple double in a comfortable victory over Orlando:
Heat 115, Hawks 91 — Alright, man.
Knicks 108, Mavericks 85 — RJ Barrett has been hot as of late. Another 32-point performance, this time on 13-22 shooting with seven rebounds. Julius Randle was two assists away from a triple double.
Rockets 128, Spurs 124 — Dejounte Murray is a mad man: 32 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists. Even though he was one of seven Spurs in double figures, the Rockets were able to hold on.
Cavaliers 111, Jazz 91 — Rudy Gobert's importance to Utah's system is glaring in his absences. For Cleveland, Darius Garland's star is trending upward: 11 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists. Evan Mobley also dropped 15-10-7. It would be an awesome time to be a Cavs fan.
Nets 138, Bulls 112 — Derrick Jones Jr. left the game after playing only 36 seconds with a leg injury. That's enough bad vibes to doom the Bulls, who are still 1.5 games ahead of Brooklyn after the loss.
Kings 125, Lakers 116 — What LeBron is doing is insane. 34 points on 13-29 from the field. He isn't slowing down: he's second in the NBA in points per game (29.1) and could easily catch Durant. He's having an All-NBA second team season at minimum. James has also found his new favorite toy: Austin Reaves, the crafty, deceptively-athletic (insert any other superlatives for white NBA players) rookie wing who cuts at the right times.
