In the 1980s the NBA had players dominate the low-post, living on the 15-foot jumper. Players would usually rely on the mid-range shots if needed. An example would be the infamous Wilt Chamberlin, who scored 100 points rarely relying on the jump shot.
When the NBA re-introduced the three-point line in the 90s, after several attempts to do so in the 1930s, said rule ultimately created a new form of breed in the league, the three-point specialists. Ever since, coaches, general managers and scouts across the nation have been trying to obtain players who have a strong presence from long range and potentially creating a strong, indestructible backcourt. Such was the case when Houston Rockets, who had James Harden, Jeremy Lin, Chandler Parsons among others, contributed to tying an NBA record, for the most three-pointers in a game, with 23.
The Rockets were close to breaking the record, however head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Mark Jackson, resorted to fouling the Rockets and sending them to the foul line,. Jackson obviously didn’t want to get embarrassed and go down in the history books as a coach who let the opposing team break an NBA record against them. The Rockets to no surprise won, and defeated the Warriors in a
blowout 140-109 win. Needless to say though, it’s the Golden State Warriors who may potentially have the most dangerous and strongest backcourt in the future instead of the Houston Rockets
With the acquisitions of Stephen Curry from the 2009 NBA draft and Klay Thompson two years later in the 2010 draft, the Warriors were able to form a dynamic shooting backcourt.
The last time the Warriors made the playoffs was during the 2006-2007 season. The Warriors went to clinch the 8th seed in the western conference with a record 42 wins, 40 losses tying the Los Angeles Clippers record that season (the Warriors owned the tie breaker therefore gaining the 8th seed instead of the Clippers). Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson led the Dubs to a somewhat successful post season run. They defeated the top-seed Dallas Mavericks that year in the first round, however the deadly Utah Jazz eliminated them, four games to one.
With Thompson and Curry now both on the squad, both sharp shooters were able to help this season’s Warriors flourish and become title contenders while utilizing their own individual abilities trying to help their team go far in the playoff race.
A situation where Curry maximized his skill set was during game one of the second round in the playoffs against the top seeded San Antonio Spurs. The Warriors, defeating the Denver Nuggets previously in the first round, came into this series knowing what the Spurs were capable of, as the Spurs have strong backcourt with the likes of Tony Parker, Manu Ginóbili, Danny Green and occasionally Matt Boner. Needless to say, Curry exploded scoring 44 points, six of which were three-pointers in game one. The following game in the series, Thompson also went off scoring 8-of-9 three pointers, scoring 24 points in the first half. He ended that game scoring 34 points.
Who can truly, honestly say they expected this from this young Warriors team? Before the post-season started, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Spurs were presumably the favourites to win the west, however the Warriors, who were sleepers for the longest time ever, were nearly forgotten about during the regular season. They just came out of nowhere and their dominance is happening now.
The future of the Warriors, if surrounded by these two, could result in endless accomplishments, milestones and perhaps championships and the spectacular part of it all? It wasn’t complicated to pair the two marksmen. All it took from the organization was guts and trusting that they were making the absolute right decision drafting both these fellows.
Fours years ago, back when Allen Iverson was still in the league (shocking, it wasn’t that long ago, I know), the franchise knew what they were getting when they drafted Curry. An instinctual, consistent shooter who arguably has the best jump shot in the 2009 draft.
With Curry striving and surpassing individual expectations, it became apparent to the franchise that the Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry duo was not working. That led to them drafting Klay Thompson in 2011 with the fate of Ellis sealed. He would be traded and the fan base came down hard on the organization for trading a great shooter.
However general manager, Bob Myers, knew that with due time Thompson, who was then a rookie, would thrive and prosper. And that’s exactly what happened. Thompson, with a wingspan of 6’7” was also arguably the best spot up shooter in his draft class. Myers is a mastermind. He was thinking about the everlasting result both Thompson and Curry could achieve to become the definitive starting backcourt.
Some may still insist it was a bad idea trading away Ellis in the package that sent him to the Milwaukee Bucks, however if he wasn’t traded, it wouldn’t have created room for both Curry and Thompson to produce astonishing results from either mid-range or beyond the arch.
While fans reminisce the good ole’ days when Ellis was a Warrior, the team hasn’t looked back and probably won’t ever.
Enough about Ellis though, it’s Curry and Thompson time. To further exemplify how dominated both shooters were beyond three-point range; the pair hit a ridiculous 483 three pointers, 17 short (if my math is right) from going 500. They broke the record of 435 three-pointersset by Magic sharp shooters Nick Anderson And Dennis Scott of the Orlando Magic back in the 1995-’96 season. And while that may be a milestone never to be broke, Stephen Curry broke an individual record, shooting 272 three-pointers in a single season. The previous holder of the record was none other than Jesus Shuttersworth, the sharp shooting specialist himself, Ray Allen.
Although he was most likely bias (he is their coach after all), Mark Jackson has all the right to say that these young guys are arguably:
"Greatest shooting backcourt in the history of the game."
As well, Curry and Thompson are also getting their guards involved, trying to help them around the perimeter and shoot the three ball as a collective. They’ve helped the team shoot 40.3 per cent from three-point range during the regular season. Not even the sharp shooting Houston Rockets could match them, as the Rockets only shot 34.7 percent from three-point range.
These two specialist, with their superior athleticism, precision and dead on accuracy were key components for the Warriors in their successful defeated against the supreme Nuggets squad and their proving to be a heck of a headache for Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs.