Steph Curry’s offensive performances this season have definitely put him in the MVP conversation, but the Warriors do not want the point guard’s defender to pass unnoticed.
While praising the entire defense, Golden State coach Steve Kerr singled out Curry’s split after the 111-107 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.
“I think Steph’s defense this year has been completely overlooked because everyone is locked up in his shooting,” Kerr said. “But his defense was fantastic.”
Curry’s ball defense this season is perhaps his best since 2015-’16, when he became the NBA’s first unanimous MVP in league history. Opponents guarded by Curry shoot 43.5 percent off the field, or 1.2 percentage points worse than when they are not guarded by him, according to the NBA Advanced Stats.
Although Curry currently averages only 1.2 steals per game, he is third on the Warriors in deviations per game (2.5). The average is 22nd among NBA guards, and is Curry’s highest since 2016-’17 (3.3).
“He’s active, active as hell,” Paschall said of Curry. “He’s on the move and plays very well. I feel he’s very underrated, but at the same time he’s doing so offensive that people overlook his defense. But he’s doing a hell of a job.”
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The Warriors allowed 8.1 fewer points per 100 possessions with him from the floor (102.3) than they had with him on the field, but he was a 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 who were healthy – together scored a defensive rating of 93.1 in 106 minutes. This is the NBA’s best point among five-man groups that have played at least 100 minutes.
Of course, the Warriors also score 13.3 additional points for every 100 possessions with Curry on the field, and that would be more than enough to keep him on the floor if he does not earn honors for his defense. But Golden State believes Curry played a key role in his top-five defense, and perhaps it will earn the double MVP extra consideration for this third.
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