Before the Warriors try to push their undefeated streak to 23 games Tuesday night in Indiana, our NBA Insiders go fact or fiction on Stephen Curry's greatness and Golden State's historic dominance.
1. Fact or fiction: If you were starting a franchise today, Curry would be your first pick.
Amin Elhassan, ESPN Insider: Fiction. And I feel awful saying it! But I'd start my franchise with Anthony Davis: (1) He's five years younger, (2) as a big guy, he has the potential to impact more areas of the game than a guard and (3) as incredible as Curry is, it's easier to find a reasonable facsimile for what he does than for what Davis does.
Kevin Pelton, ESPN Insider: Fiction. If we were actually starting a franchise, I'd go with Davis, who is almost exactly five years younger. But if we were just playing this season, Curry has supplanted LeBron James as the pick. He is the best player in the NBA, full stop.
David Thorpe, ESPN Insider: Fact. Curry might even outrank men such as Larry Bird and (gasp) LeBron at the same age. Certainly today he ranks No. 1. He is the most weaponized point guard the league has seen, capable of scoring efficiently or assisting from anywhere inside of 28 feet, while being a plus defender and a fantastic teammate who excels under pressure.
Tom Haberstroh, ESPN Insider: Fact. He's Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson. Two months ago, I was convinced Davis would be the no-brainer answer to this question. But between his constant injuries and Curry's utter destruction of the league, I'm siding with the 27-year-old who's currently topping the all-time PER record by 3.4 points (35.2 vs. Wilt's 31.8). And the best part? Steph's skill set ages like Greek marble.
Steve Ilardi, ESPN Insider: Fact. Curry is the best player in the game -- his predictive RPM edges LeBron's, 9.31 to 8.80. At age 27, Curry should have at least three more prime seasons, followed by a graceful decline. The other obvious choice, Davis, is just 22. But his slow start this season raises doubts about whether he can ever reach Curry's level.
2. Fact or fiction: Curry is playing better than any point guard in NBA history.
Elhassan: Fiction. And again it pains me to say it! Magic Johnson was sublime in 1987, averaging 24, 12 and 6. Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double for a season. In Phoenix I watched Steve Nash lead the league in assists and effective FG percentage. So let's call Curry historic and leave it at that.
Pelton: Fact. If we're talking simply about the way Curry has played over the first 22 games of this season, I'm not sure anyone has ever been better. (Certainly, Curry's combination of usage and efficiency over such a span is unprecedented.) Ipso facto, no point guard has played better than Curry has so far.
Thorpe: Fiction. But only Magic Johnson, given his range of talents, ranks ahead of Curry. Magic could rebound, lead the break, post up, guard big men, make lesser talents more effective, control pace, etc. It's Curry if we were looking only at guys when they were primary ball handlers, but Magic's versatility gains him a very slight edge over Curry. Very slight.
Haberstroh: Fact. You could argue better than any player, period (see my previous answer). Granted, Curry's defense isn't all-NBA like Michael Jordan's consistently was in his prime, but we also weren't pondering whether we need to change the rules to thwart Jordan as some are now with Curry. In his current form, Curry is the best player who happens to play point guard, but he isn't the best "point guard" in the traditional sense. He breaks all the rules.
Ilardi: Fact-ish. There have been better distributors (Chris Paul, John Stockton) and many better defenders. But Curry's combination of unlimited range, scoring ability from every spot on the floor and elite handle has become a disruptive force for which no opponent has an answer. Only Magic Johnson before him has reinvented the position with comparable disruptive effect.
3. Fact or fiction: Curry is the greatest shooter you'll see in your lifetime.
Elhassan: Fact. At last, a softball! If someone else has Curry's genetic inheritance, early exposure to the NBA and quick release, I'm adopting that kid tomorrow. Once we thought we'd never see another Wilt or Magic or Dr. J, so maybe we should expect someone to come along to best Curry. But in terms of shooting ability, I think this is the peak of basketball evolution.
Pelton: Fiction. It's hard to imagine a shooter much better relative to the league, but players keep getting better and better at shooting 3-pointers, which is the driving factor in this question. I'm hoping to be around long enough to see them get to the point where a Curry-type isn't such an outlier.
Thorpe: Fiction. Curry is inspiring millions to play the way he does. At high school and AAU events -- and in my driveway at home -- I see young players trying "Curry shots" no old-school coach would allow. So someone will catch and surpass what he has done. And with more girls playing now than ever before, the best shooter ever might be named "Stephanie."
Haberstroh: Fiction. Well, this got real dark real quickly as I'm now pondering the day of my death. But looking forward to (I hope) the next five decades or so, I think there's a good chance a future 6-foot-8 Curry is lurking, learning to walk somewhere and tossing dirty diapers into the trashcan from the next room. And doing the shimmy.
Ilardi: Fiction. While Curry is the best shooter anyone has ever seen, he also is inspiring a new generation, expanding their vision of what's possible. Because of Curry, we will likely see an even better shooter. Someone in 1976 probably said, "Dr. J is the greatest dunker we'll ever see." It was a reasonable prediction ... until we saw MJ.
4. Fact or fiction: The Warriors will win 73 games or more to break the 1995-96 Bulls' record.
Elhassan: Fiction. The Bulls won 72 in their first season of that three-peat, but the next two years, regular-season wins were less of a priority. I expect the same rationale to enter the Warriors' decision-making process. Right now, 73 is within Golden State's grasp. Eventually, preserving Curry, Draymond Green et al. will supersede the desire to add regular-season victories.
Pelton: Fiction. There are still more ways for this to go wrong than right: injury to a star, certainly (knock on wood), but also resting starters late in the season in addition to simply regressing to the mean. I wouldn't yet bet on 73, though that's no longer unreasonable.
Thorpe: Fact. The weakening Western Conference will be a factor. I do think Golden State will rest guys some and that will result in a few losses. But they grow more confident daily, and still have some room for improvement from some of their role players.
Haberstroh: Fiction. I'm not there yet. I'll say 72-10 and that's not a cop-out. Each marginal win at that stratosphere is harder than the next. It's like climbing Everest; the conditions get more treacherous as you reach closer to the top. The scary thing is that Curry historically gets much better as the season progresses. BPI has them at 71-11, but it doesn't know Curry may be just warming up.
Ilardi: Fiction (probably). ESPN's Basketball Power Index (BPI) gives the Warriors only a 31 percent chance of reaching 73 wins. And the Warriors' BPI is based on the team being near full strength. If their luck turns, or they start resting players, their odds of surpassing the 72-10 Bulls drop even lower.
5. Fact or fiction: If time travel were possible, these Warriors would beat the Bulls.
Elhassan: Fiction and fact. With 1996 rules, the Bulls win. Chicago's man-to-man defense and physical play on the perimeter would stymie Golden State (though it would be fun to watch the Warriors tee off from a shorter 3-point line). With 2016 rules, the Warriors win. While the greater freedom of movement would help the Bulls' triangle offense, the zone defense rules make the Warriors' defense elite, and the further 3-point line would test the spacing ability of every Bull not named Steve Kerr or Jud Buechler.
Pelton: Fact. Not every time or anything, but I think Golden State would adapt better to 1995-96 era basketball than Chicago would to 2015-16 for one simple reason: Imagine Curry and Klay Thompson with a 22-foot 3-point line. I'd make the Warriors about 1.5-point favorites.
Thorpe: Fiction. In a series under the new defensive rules, I'd favor that Bulls team over the Warriors four games to two. Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan would hound Curry, and they'd go small with Pippen at the 4 to blitz the Curry/Green ball screens at the top of the key. And Jordan would get into the paint every time.
Haberstroh: Fiction. The 1996 Bulls never had a 22-game win streak, but after digging into the numbers, I found their 22-game peak in scoring margin (15.3 points per game) is higher than the Warriors' (14.9). Furthermore, the Bulls' 10-game peak also was higher (18.4) than the Warriors' (17.1). The Warriors can get better, but for now, I'm taking the GOAT. For now.
Ilardi: Fiction and fact. In 1996, with handchecking allowed and zone defenses outlawed, the Bulls would have an overwhelming advantage, and Curry would take a merciless pounding. In 2016, the Bulls would stand almost no chance without a modern NBA offense and defense.