Golden State Warriors vs. New York Knicks: Who Has the Edge?
By Mike Dill
May 14, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts against the San Antonio Spurs in the second quarter in game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at the AT
Point Guard
Warriors: Stephen Curry, Toney Douglas, Nemanja Nedovic
Knicks: Raymond Felton, Pablo Prigioni, Beno Udrih
Plenty of Knicks fans had concerns when the team signed Raymond Felton (particularly concerning his weight)), but Felton put those concerns to rest with a solid season. Stephen Curry also had a solid season last year; he averaged 22.9 points and 6.9 assists per game. Many were surprised to see him left off of the All-Star team. If Curry can continue his great play next season, he will be a lock to make it to All-Star weekend.
Felton is a solid point guard, but he doesn’t do anything particularly well. He can put up points at a decent clip, isn’t a bad three-point shooter, and is a good passer. He just doesn’t compare to a player of Curry’s skill level. Curry is the best shooter in the league, which helps make up for any weaknesses he has in his game. He is also a better passer than Felton, although he does still make a few bone-headed plays from time to time.
The backup point guards, Toney Douglas and Pablo Prigioni, excel in different areas. Prigioni is an excellent three-point shooter – or just shooter in general. He also averaged an astounding 6.7 assists per 36 minutes last season (his rookie season).
Douglas is a capable scorer, but his defense is what makes him stand out. While on the Houston Rockets last season, he did a great job of keeping Curry in check. He needs to work on his passing, but his defense is good enough to get him playing time at point guard.