We need Avery Bradley. Everyone can sit and gape for as long as they want, but this guy Curry isn't going to change. He's a generational player - the kind that "breaks" the game in some way. The rest of the league is going to have to suck it up and figure out some way to slow him down, if they ever hope to have a chance at beating the Warriors in a 7 game series. But that seems impossible, he's shown this season that he's capable of making shots from around 35 feet consistently, if you leave him open.
And players do leave him open. He was wide open on that game winner against OKC. Because 99% of players in the NBA have a defensive mentality engrained into them - you don't need to start guarding a guy until he gets to the 3 point line. That makes sense against any player but Curry, but even when these guys know Curry can hit shots from way out there, they slip into instinct mode and he punishes them in the blink of an eye. It's my opinion that the only way to slow him down is to pick him up at half court and stick with him like glue all the way to the basket.
Luckily for us, we have a player who can do just that. Actually, Avery is capable of pressuring Curry all the way, and really wearing him out. And he can match Steph athletically. Whatever you think of Avery, it's a fact that he's one of the best (if not the best) 1 on 1 guard defenders in the league. I know Marcus is too, but I'm not sure he's quite as quick as Avery, and Curry is deadly quick. But both of them have the drive and tenacity to guard Curry the whole way. Our guys wouldn't have left Steph open on that game winner, I guarantee it.
I know we don't have Finals hopes yet, but they may be coming pretty soon, and we may have to face the Warriors there. Let the NBA think Curry is unstoppable, but we know we have an answer. I hope we keep Avery forever and get some real offensive firepower soon so he doesn't have to score as much and he can put all his energy back into that amazing defense we love. Slow down Curry and you can disrupt the warriors rhythm - I think that's the way to beat them.
Submitted February 28, 2016 at 01:51AM by delipeachtea