For some time, attempts were made to explain Stephen Curry’s clumsiness by his upcoming record. The idea of becoming the most prolific 3-point shooter in history arguably weighed heavily on his shoulders, and the pressure made him tremble a little when it came time for the final move.
Except that the record fell, the matches followed and the awkwardness remained. The Golden State playmaker has thus stacked the benefits at less than 40% success behind the arc, when he has not fallen below 30%, in a completely unusual way for him. Especially over such a long period…
How to explain such a lean period for the best shooter of all time? “He started telling me that he lacked power and therefore had to drop the ball at the top of his shot”, analyzes Bruce Fraser, assistant coach who has worked with the 2015 and 2016 MVP for years, for The Athletic.
However, we know that with Stephen Curry, the ball leaves his hand during the climb. He draws fast and low. This lack of power, which was seen with shots that were too short in particular, the triple champion may have found its source, in a detail, which ultimately is not quite one.
The click to regain power?
During a practice, he felt that he had become accustomed to pushing on the balls of his feet, whereas he kicks by taking his support with the balls of his feet in the classic way. Is that why it lacked power? By finding his usual supports, he again put the baskets and the rotation of his ball was better.
The result didn’t show in the next game, when he made a 2/10 at 3-pts against Dallas, but then, against Minnesota, he shot at 6/10. Exceeding 55% success behind the arc was a first for him since December 23. An eternity.
It will obviously be necessary to confirm in the coming days, to check if this change really upsets the success of this precision machine that is Stephen Curry.
Moreover, the fatigue that is building up for the Warriors star, who is approaching 34 and playing 34 minutes on average, cannot be overlooked either. Finally, another factor not to be forgotten, points out Bruce Fraser, the lack of training or shootarounds (Covid-19 obliges, certain franchises zapped them) may have disrupted Curry.
“The schedule is tough for everyone but he hasn’t taken that many shots in training”, explains the assistant coach. “The days when there is no match, the same. On some match days, there were no shootarounds. The more he shoots, the better it is afterwards. You have to hit balls to be a golfer. When you’re Curry, a sniper, you have to shoot. »
| Stephen Curry | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2009-10 | GOS | 80 | 36 | 46.2 | 43.7 | 88.5 | 0.6 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 5.9 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 17.5 |
| 2010-11 | GOS | 74 | 34 | 48.0 | 44.2 | 93.4 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 18.6 |
| 2011-12 | GOS | 26 | 28 | 49.0 | 45.5 | 80.9 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 14.7 |
| 2012-13 | GOS | 78 | 38 | 45.1 | 45.3 | 90.0 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 6.9 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 22.9 |
| 2013-14 | GOS | 78 | 37 | 47.1 | 42.4 | 88.5 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 8.5 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 24.0 |
| 2014-15 ★ | GOS | 80 | 33 | 48.7 | 44.3 | 91.4 | 0.7 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 7.7 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 23.8 |
| 2015-16 ★ | GOS | 79 | 34 | 50.4 | 45.4 | 90.7 | 0.9 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 6.7 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 30.1 |
| 2016-17 | GOS | 79 | 33 | 46.8 | 41.1 | 89.8 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 25.3 |
| 2017-18 | GOS | 51 | 32 | 49.5 | 42.3 | 92.1 | 0.7 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 26.4 |
| 2018-19 | GOS | 69 | 34 | 47.2 | 43.7 | 91.6 | 0.7 | 4.7 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 27.3 |
| 2019-20 | GOS | 5 | 28 | 40.2 | 24.5 | 100.0 | 0.8 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 6.6 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 20.8 |
| 2020-21 | GOS | 63 | 34 | 48.2 | 42.1 | 91.6 | 0.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.1 | 32.0 |
| 2021-22 | GOS | 45 | 35 | 41.8 | 37.7 | 91.1 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 25.8 |
| Total | 807 | 34 | 47.3 | 42.9 | 90.7 | 0.7 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 6.5 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 24.3 | |
