Tuesday, March 01, 2016
Basketball 2016- Anticipating March Madness
I do not
often make predictions. Basically, it is because I am a coward.
But I am
predicting that Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry will repeat as
the MVP of the NBA this year. A very safe prediction. Following last
year's remarkable season, he has taken his game to greater heights.
He has re-written the record book even though the season is far from
complete.
In Curry's
case, this is a story of the apple falling close to the tree. His
father Dell played from 1986 to 2002 in the National Basketball
Association. He began his career with the Utah Jazz, moved to
Cleveland for a year, and then spent the next ten years with the
Charlotte Hornets. After another season with the Milwaukee Bucks, he
finished up his career with the Toronto Raptors, retiring in 2002.
Dell Curry
grew up in Virginia. In order to perfect his shot, he got permission
from his high school coach to practise in his barn. He went on to
play college ball as a four-year starter at Virginia Tech. And he was
also a decent baseball player as well, drafted out of high school by
the Texas Rangers, and later by the Baltimore Orioles.
Steph Curry
is the oldest of the three Curry children. His brother Seth plays for
the Sacramento Kings, and his sister plays volleyball at Elon
University. His mother also played university volleyball. The right
DNA, to begin with.
He moved to
Toronto with his family in 1999. As an elementary school kid in the
West End of the city, he began to learn his trade. Shooting,
shooting, shooting. Handling the ball. Learning the ropes. On one
occasion, he arrived late for the game, at half time. Without any
warmup, his first shot went through the hoop. And the next. And
several shots following that. He played for a “Club” team called
Toronto 5-0.
They
traveled around the province playing other Club teams. They amassed a
record of 33 wins, four losses, and won the provincial championship.
(Several area kids have also traveled that route
to learn the
game, including the Ross boys, the Doornekamps from the Napanee area,
and my son Arty.)
Steph
married a Toronto native Ayesha Alexander. They have two daughters,
and live in the Bay area of San Francisco.
Incidentally,
the Raptors drafted DeMar DeRozan in the same draft that saw Curry go
to the Golden State Warriors. Curry went seventh, DeRozan ninth. Missed him by a hair! DeRozan has been an outstanding addition to the Raptors
roster.
Last weekend
Curry hit a shot that has stirred the basketball world. It was
measured at more than 38 feet from the basket. It was a game-winning
shot, in overtime. It was his 288th three point basket,
eclipsing his previous mark. Last year, he established the record for
the most three pointers in a season. The Warriors still have almost
30% of their games remaining. He will certainly score at least 400
this season.
Curry shoots
slightly more that 50% beyond the arc, and is successful more than 9
out of every ten times that he shoots foul shots. A small man in a
big man's game, he seems to compensate, adequately.
An
incredible ball-handler, his warm up routine is worth the price of
admission. He dribbles two balls, and stretches to prepare for the
game. His moves to the basket for simple layups confound opponents.
The approach that most opposing teams have to guarding him? Keep the
ball out of his hands.
He has
elevated his team to great heights. There is a good chance that they
will eclipse the best regular season record of all time-owned by the
1995-96 Chicago Bulls. Yes, the heyday of a certain Michael Jordan.
Curry will also repeat as league MVP, and will lead his team into the
playoffs.
There is
also plenty of other wonderful tidbits about this young star on
Wikipedia, including video of
his times in Hogtown.
Off
to see the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles tonight. First Playoff game. Do
or die in every game. It's Madness!
James Hurst
# posted by James Hurst @ 7:00 AM 
