As a Cavs fan, 2015-2018 Steph.
this post was submitted on 22 Oct 2023
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2016 Steph regular season is an offensive masterclass.
30ppg leading the league in scoring while leading the league in efficiency as well at 67% True Shooting. His 3pt shooting has been elite in all of those years but 2016 was one of his best finishing years. Super shifty at getting downhill and hitting nearly 70% efficiency near the basket.
On top of being a walking 4v3 for his team as he picks up defenders onto the perimeter that opens the paint for players like Iggy to get free 2 pointers
The highest volume 50-40-90 season
Sitting out fourth quarters too
It’s tough to say because yes, the numbers were the best of his career, and 73 wins is absolutely insane. But so much of that was abusing the shit out of slow big men on switches, which you don’t get as many opportunities anymore. Lot more single coverage back then as well. Since the 2019 finals when KD was hurt, the league completely changed how they guarded him.
Yes
2016 Steph was a better scorer but 2022 Steph was far more well rounded. Physically stronger, better defender, tighter handle, better passer, smarter decision maker, etc. The main thing that declined from 2016 was his speed but he improved in so many other areas
I mean in 2021 he was a better shooter than 2022, and still has those improvements from 2016. He was the same player, so why not say that year? Is making the playoffs the real x-factor?
It’s also important to look at the way he has been guarded since 2016, especially after KD left. In 2016, he was doing stuff the league had no idea how to guard. Since then, the league has evolved quite a bit, especially defensively. And yet, he’s still at worst a top 5 player in the league. What he did in the 2021 regular season and 2022 playoffs isnt too far off from his 2016 regular season, despite everyone trying to shape their squad to stop teams like the Warriors.
A little while ago I made a comment comparing his stats from 2016 to some more recent years - think it was on a post asking if he'd be viewed as better or worse if KD never came to GS; as in, he'd likely have 1 or 2 fewer rings, but better individual stats/accolades.
The difference in efficiency between the peak 2016 season and his subsequent seasons mostly seemed to be about 1 made 3pt shot a game. Which on the one hand is pretty big - 27ppg Vs 30ppg isn't nothing, and even taking 10+ a game, 1 make or miss either way makes a noticeable difference to your 3pt% (and then overall ts%) - but on the other hand, given how the league defends him now compared to his superstar breakout, 1 fewer 3pter is nothing.
2016 was obviously a peak, but I don't think it's anywhere near as much ahead of his average season (since 2015) as people think.
This is the key - go back and look at some of those highlights from 2016, he’s got nobody within 10 feet of him for some of those shots. The fact that he’s putting up damn near the same numbers in ‘21 & ‘22 with someone all but inside his jersey is unbelievable.
Yeah 2016 Steph was still a huge liability on D because he lacked the strength and wisdom. He improved a fair amount on the defensive end.
“Night Night” Steph is super saiyan 4 goku
Literally shit on them boys and told em to tuck themselves in 😴💤
I think 2022 Steph is significantly better.
In 2016, he was a decent chunk faster but more importantly the league still was uncertain about the best way to guard him. By 2022 a lot more guys had gotten a lot more reps against him and he still dominated them. 22 Steph also made way fewer mistakes.
I legitimately thought the Celtics would have an answer for him but he absolutely fucking dominated us., he was always my favorite player in the league so it was brutal watching him dismantle my team
I think it depends on what “better” is defined as. 2016 is better in that he was farther ahead of the league at the time. But skills and ability wise, 2022 was better
2016 is the best relative to the league but that's also because the league had absolutely no idea what to do with his extreme shooting ability.
It's hard to know what to do with the last 3 years. 2021 had some of that same shooting magic from earlier in his career (he had that week with 4 games of 10+ made threes). 2022 had a horrific regular season shooting slump but obviously a terrific playoff run capped off by a dominant Finals against an elite defense. 2023 had a more normal regular season but some terrible shooting against the Lakers as well as a defensive dropoff from 2022 (which I think is his best defensive season of the 3).
I like a good Massuman Curry
2016 is just meta-breaking but 2022 is an atg staple.
ATG? Ass to Grass?
Unanimous MVP Steph of course
- Why?
He forever changed how everyone played basketball.
I'm surprised 2022 is given as an answer by people, he was great as usual but nowhere near 2016 form, that man was on another planet. Averaged 31 a game while sitting so many 4th quarters cause his team went 73-9.
The only competition to me is the 2020-21 Steph. That mf had 4 guys guarding him at once and still averaged 32 a game. That stretch of his to pull our sorry ass team to the play-in was legendary
Regular season: 2016
Playoffs: 2022
Hoodie Steph
The real answer is 2017 Steph
2016 Steph was best for me. Scary speed and shooting. Jamal Murray can do most of the shit 2022 Curry did. Tatum and Brown just folded like beach chairs in the finals
2022 Steph doesn’t have the same numbers as his offensive peak in ‘16, but was much stronger, a better finisher, smarter and an overall more well-rounded player
2016 for me.
While it’s true that 21-22 wasn’t his best overall, he did start out on fire as a continuation of the ending to 20-21, so that calendar year was among his best ever.
2016 Steph is probably the best offensive shooter in h the history of the game. Dude is unstoppable and dominant. If not for the injury I’m sure he would have willed the warriors to a win
The one who confidently took the jump ball against Wembanyana the other night. I laughed so damn hard.
Relative to the rest of the league 2016. He was so unique he literally broke basketball and the geometry of the court on offense. Once players/teams caught up the gap slimed. Steph’s a better player now though however. If 2022 Steph played 2016 Steph 2022 would win
I don’t give a damn about regular season. 2022 Steph was the best player in the playoffs and I would take that Steph over any other.
It’s 2016 Steph, shit was like watching a circus but it’s a professional athlete playing basketball. He was making shots from anywhere on the court and basically having his way on offense. Every shot that was a bad shot was going in.
I think 2021-22 Steph was clearly the best. His dribbling was much sharper, he was far better under-pressure and when doubled, and his conditioning let him dominate all game.
Collectors edition with articulated limbs and mouthpiece accessory
2016 Steph was insane but the league had no idea how to guard him. In 2021 or 2022 he was a better defender, passer, dribbler, rebounder, and could get past more defenses.