Steph Curry’s offensive performances this season put him firmly in the MVP conversation, but the Warriors don’t want the guard’s defense to go unnoticed.
While praising the entire defense, Golden State coach Steve Kerr highlighted Curry’s double play after Wednesday’s 111-107 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
“I think Steph’s defense this year has been largely overlooked, because everyone was stuck in his goals and kicks,” said Kerr. “But your defense was fantastic.”
Curry’s ball defense this season is perhaps the best since 2015-16, when he became the first unanimous MVP in NBA league history. Curry-protected opponents are shooting 43.5 percent of the field, or 1.2 percentage points worse than when they are not kept by him, according to NBA Advanced Stats.
Although Curry is currently averaging just 1.2 steals per game, he is third in the Warriors in deflections per game (2.5). This average is the 22nd among NBA guards and is the highest for Curry since 2016-17 (3.3).
“He is active, very active,” said Paschall of Curry. “He is holding his ground and playing very well. I feel that he is very underestimated, but at the same time, he does so much in attack that people forget his defense. But he is doing a great job.”
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The Warriors allowed 8.1 points less for 100 possessions with him off the field (102.3) than with him on the court, but he has been part of Golden State’s best defensive unit this season. Curry, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kevon Looney – the Warriors’ starting lineup when healthy – recorded a defensive score of 93.1 in 106 minutes together. This is the NBA’s best mark among groups of five players who have played at least 100 minutes.
Of course, the Warriors also score an additional 13.3 points for every 100 possessions with Curry on the court, and that would be more than enough to keep him on the ground if he weren’t winning applause for his defense. But Golden State believes that Curry played a vital role in his defense of the top five, and perhaps that is worth the additional consideration of twice MVP for this third.
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