Hot & cold Curry needs to find more consistency <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">ATLANTA - With his 6-11, 285-pound bulk and his youthful athleticism, Eddy Curry looks the part of a dominant NBA center. That he hasn't shown signs of developing into one in his fifth season is what troubles Knicks coach Larry Brown and certainly was a factor in the Chicago Bulls' decision to trade him. Anyone charting Curry's progress this season could have predicted five-point, five-rebound burnout in the Knicks' loss Saturday night in Philadelphia. He was coming off his best back-to-back scoring effort of the season, 44 total points in games against Sacramento and Orlando. It was the first time he topped the 40-point mark in a two-game set this season, and it was as though he had nothing left in the tank for the next night. That's a problem in the NBA, where there is always a next night. In his past 18 games, Curry has hit the 20-point mark eight times, but never back-to-back. But it wasn't the lack of scoring that bothered Brown so much as Curry's lack of will to battle 76ers center Samuel Dalembert, a rebounding and shot-blocking machine. "My whole thing with him every night is I ask him to bring energy," Brown said of Curry. "I don't give a darn if he scores a basket. Just go after balls, block shots, play like Sammy. "Without scoring, [Dalembert] controlled the whole game. He had five blocks, but he had about 10 shots he made people change. He keeps people from going to the basket. That's what you would hope somebody with the athleticism of Eddy would do, and hopefully, he'll do that someday." The 23-year-old Curry is an earnest player who accepts coaching and wants to do the right thing. The irregular heartbeat he suffered last season has not returned, but his conditioning is a question that has followed him throughout his career. Curry's 6.7 rebounding average is a career best and a sign that he's trying a little harder, but it's well below the expectations for him. Like his coaches, Curry has no explanation for his up-and-down pattern this season. "It's just something I have to continue to work on," he said. "I've got to continue to try to be a better player every single day. Eventually I'll get it, and I'm going to help this team win games consistently. We're going to be a good team, and I'm going to be a good player." The good news for the Knicks is that he's due for a strong effort tonight in Atlanta. The bad news is that his down cycle could kick in at home tomorrow night against Kobe Bryant's Lakers. The problem is that the Knicks (14-28) need Curry to control the middle every night, even more so now with Stephon Marbury playing hurt with a sprained left shoulder. Marbury is a reluctant critic, but he said, "Right now, we have to find some consistency as far as who is going to go out and be our presence. We think that Eddy can definitely be our presence in the middle. It just wasn't there [in Philadelphia]. It's like that some nights."</div> Newsday This is true, but the Knicks need to do a much better job getting the ball in Curry’s hand once he establishes position, especially when he gets it real deep in the paint. He averages 15 points on 54% shooting, and averages 7 free throw attempts per game in only 27 minutes. He’s also #1 in points per shot, so he is effective in the post. My only concern with him is his turnovers and foul troubles. I don’t think this will become too much of a problem in the future. It’s not like he’s 30 years old, he’s only 23, so he’s still young and has a lot of time to develop. According to Mark Aguirre, he hasn’t been coached properly and either. Contrary to most reports, Curry doesn’t strike me as a lazy player; he just seems like a player with a low basketball IQ which is probably due to him not going to college.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">This is true, but the Knicks need to do a much better job getting the ball in Curry?s hand once he establishes position, especially when he gets it real deep in the paint. He averages 15 points on 54% shooting, and averages 7 free throw attempts per game in only 27 minutes. He?s also #1 in points per shot, so he is effective in the post. My only concern with him is his turnovers and foul troubles. I don?t think this will become too much of a problem in the future. It?s not like he?s 30 years old, he?s only 23, so he?s still young and has a lot of time to develop. According to Mark Aguirre, he hasn?t been coached properly and either. Contrary to most reports, Curry doesn?t strike me as a lazy player; he just seems like a player with a low basketball IQ which is probably due to him not going to college.</div> Curry has been a non-difference maker. We are just as good(or bad depending on your viewpoint)with Curry as without. The post entry passing for the Knicks is indeed terrible but Curry isnt active enough in the low post. His turnovers and foul troubles will likely follow him for his entire career because like you said he just isnt a bright basketball player. He isnt very skilled around the basket, he likes to just bully his way to the hoop which is why he always gets called for at least one offensive foul per game and his passing leaves alot to be desired. Anyway Curry isn't living up to expectations and is making Isiah look bad. That trade for Curry doesnt look so good now does it MrJ? Anyway I think Isiah Thomas should be fired.
