As Planned, Curry Becomes No. 1 Option

[Shapecity]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There is nothing subtle about a 300-pound man-child bounding to the basket, dunking and woofing as he goes. This is only appropriate, because there is nothing subtle about the transformation the Knicks are undergoing with Isiah Thomas on the bench and Eddy Curry roaming the lane.

As the team president, Thomas acquired Curry in a risky and much-criticized trade with the Chicago Bulls. As the coach, Thomas is making Curry?s development his top priority, and it is starting to pay dividends.

Curry, the 6-foot-11 center, has scored at least 20 points in four consecutive games, by far his best streak since joining the Knicks last year. Curry leads the team with six 20-point games this season ? twice as many as the Knicks? high-powered starting guards, Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury, combined.

None of this is by accident. When Thomas traded for Curry, he viewed him as an offensive centerpiece ? a franchise player who could anchor the Knicks for the next decade. Upon becoming coach this season, Thomas immediately designated Curry the No. 1 scoring option. The better Curry has played, the stronger Thomas?s rhetoric has become.

Thomas was never clearer about his vision than Wednesday afternoon, before the Knicks? 101-98 victory in Cleveland.

?Where Eddy?s at right now, he definitely will become a go-to guy,? Thomas said. ?That?s one of the subtle changes that?s happened in our team, is the point and the direction of the ball is starting to go and focus more inside, which is forcing some changes out on the perimeter. There?s a natural growth process that will happen, and it?s happening in our team, although it?s not showing up in terms of wins and losses. But I feel good about the direction that we?re going and the way our team is taking hold.?</div>

Source

 

[Mr. J]

I really don't like forcing the ball into Curry for many reasons:

- When we pass him the ball, we have the tendency to telegrpah passes to him, which is especially bad since he doesn't really come for the ball either.

- When he's out of his comfort zone, it's almost an AUTOMATIC charge or offensive foul.

- I used to think Curry was just lazy, but now I think his basketball IQ is just LOW.

- He's a turnover machine: 3.1 turnovers in 31 minutes.

 

[Shapecity]

Well the theory makes sense, because having a dominant presence on the inside makes the game easier for everyone else. The problem is neither Francis or Marbury are solid point guards, especially in halfcourt sets. They are at their best when they can breakdown the defender and then penetrate or get out on the break and finish.

This is probably the reason Marbury is lost this season. Isiah is asking him to play a role he's never succeeded at.

As for Curry, I don't think he has the stamina to be the primary option on offense, but getting him off early would be a good strategy for the Knicks to try. Feed him the ball, get him his points and hopefully he responds by spending some energy on defense and also opening the spacing up when teams double team him.