Can Curry score 100+ points in a game?
Can Stephen Curry score 100+ points in a single game?
Spoiler Alert....YES!!!!
That question seemed unfathomable, but now at least seems possible. There were a lot of things that Curry has done that seemed impossible. He has 5 career games with 10+ 3 pointers (no other player has more than 3). He is the 1st player in NBA history with back to back 10+ 3 pointers in a game. He has broken his own record of 3 pointers in a season with 24 more games to play this season (thats on pace to break the record by 122 3 pointers. In context Larry Bird's best season was 98 3's total. Steph is on pace to break the record by 122 3 pointers.
After his recent heroics against OKC. Here is Great recognizing Great!...
"@StephenCurry30 needs to stop it man!! He’s ridiculous man! Never before seen someone like him in the history of ball!" LeBron James
"@StephenCurry30 has a chance to be the greatest player we’ve ever seen, if he plays at this level for the next 4-5yrs!" Magic Johnson
"That's a FT for Steph. Props to the Warriors for another win." Scottie Pippen
THE CONS
1. Steph's currant career high is "only" 54 points (and it wasn't even in a game this year).
2. There are 50 players in NBA history that have scored more than 54 pts in a single game (and only Wilt has reached 100).
3. 10 Active Players have scored more than Curry's Career best 54 pts.
4. 2 Players have scored more than Curry's Career best 54 points THIS YEAR.
Anthony Davis (59),
DeMarcus Cousins (56).
5. Even his own teammate (Klay Thompson's career best is within 2 points of Steph's 54 point performance).
So why does Curry have a shot at 100+. He has a better shot than anyone in NBA history.
THE PROS
1. Curry has scored 50+ 7x in his career (amazingly in all 7 he shot 27-28 FG attempts with 13-14 FT attempts). 6 of those 7 games he scored those points playing in less than 36 minutes (3 quarters). In terms of a full 4 quarters, thats 68-70 points.
For comparison..
2. Curry has scored 20+ in a quarter 8x this year.
3. Curry is the best shooter of all time. (and its not even close)
4. He is confident enough to attack it.
"If I played the whole game, if I shot like I did in New Orleans and played a full 48, maybe got 20 more shots up, might’ve got 75-ish. That’s shooting the ball really well, too. A hundred, probably not…There are certain nights when you get going, if it’s a close game or something and I play a lot of minutes, who knows what happens?” Steph Curry
What would it take for Curry to score 100+?
1. In his own words....A full game. This year Curry has only played in more than 36 min of game action in 36% of games he's played. The only way 100 will happen is if the GSW are going for 73 wins and are in a close game.
This year Steph is averaging 20 shots a game, 11 3's and 9 2's (of which he is averaging making 5 3's and 5 2's with 5 FTs). His best game this year (FG%agewise) was a 40 pter in 30 min. He shot 8 of 11 from 3 and 6 of 7 from 2 and 4 of 4 from FTs. So combine his average shot selection x his best shooting performance and apply that to 40+ FG attempts and you get the following scenario...
2. 40+ FG attempts at his most efficient rate. His most this year was 31 FG attemps. Something like 25-30 3's (make 16-20 of them). 20-25 2's (make 15-20 of them for 16-24 points). Make the rest up in FT's. It would have to be a total team effort to get Curry that many attempts in a somewhat meaningful game.
He's already sold us on the Greatest Shooter of All Time. His team may very well finish with 73+ wins to be the Greatest Team of All Time. Come on Steph...lets go for Greatest Single Game performance of All time. Yes its unlikely, but wasn't the thought of 73 wins impossible, until Curry made it possible?
