Stephen Curry vs. John Wall: Who Will Win at H-O-R-S-E?
As a basketball fan in a perfect world, nothing — maybe except five Christmas Day games — should make you more excited than All- Star Weekend.
Every single one of the league’s elite descending onto one city to participate in various events over the course of the weekend… a fan’s dream right? But, for one reason or another, most superstars decline to participate in any of the events except Sunday’s All- Star Game. At the end of most All- Star Weekend’s over the last six or seven years, fans are left with a twinge of disappointment. The buzz on that first day of work or back to school is almost never about what actually happened over the weekend, but what fans wish could’ve happened.
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“Why isn’t LeBron in the dunk contest?”
“Why don’t these guys play any defense?”
“How are James Jones and Anthony Morrow the best players the NBA could’ve put in the Three Point Contest?”.
And usually, these questions go unanswered. But this year is looking to be a little bit different. With All-Star Weekend taking place in New York City this weekend, everyone wants to get a little bit of the Big Apple spotlight. Kevin Durant took part in hosting a Kanye West concert that featured names like Travi$ Scott and Big Sean. LeBron James hosted a fashion show featuring NBA players as the runway models. And plenty of other players took part in the various clubbing events happening around the city.
And while LeBron and KD aren’t taking part in any of the actual All- Star Weekend events outside of Sunday’s All- Star Game, a quick look at this weekend’s lineup indicates that many other stars are getting involved. The Degree Shooting Stars Challenge is featuring Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook, fan-favorite Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge and the highly anticipated Foot Locker Three-Point Contest has five All-Stars in the field.
The most intriguing event however, might be one that isn’t even NBA sanctioned: a game of H-O-R-S-E. On Saturday at 10:30 EST, Stephen Curry and John Wall are facing off in a souped up version of the schoolyard game at Madison Square Garden that will be televised on NBA TV. While details on the rules have been scarce, it has been indicated that at least one shot for each player will be voted on by fans over Twitter.
In real games, Curry and Wall play with drastically differing styles. Curry is a lights out, volume shooter who enjoys dancing with the ball and hoisting (and hitting) contested three pointers. Wall prefers to attack the basket while also making a conscious effort to get his teammates the ball in half-court sets. And though they play very differently, their effectiveness can’t be argued.
That being said, in a game of pure H-O-R-S-E, it’s pretty obvious that Curry’s superior shooting would make him the runaway victor. In this altered format however, there’s likely to be a mix of both pure shooting and athleticism/acrobatics involved, making it anyone’s game and thus, making the head-to-head matchup between two of the leagues best point guards even that much more intriguing.
But it’s not quite the head-to-head matchup that would truly get the entire basketball world buzzing. So, I’ve decided to try to figure out who would win at the rawest form of basketball competition: one-on-one.
The Case for Curry
Feb 11, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) looks on during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Warriors won 94-91. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
In one-on-one, isolation skills are key. And Stephen Curry might be the best isolation basketball player in the league. All season Curry has dazzled with his array of fancy dribble moves and his knack for sinking impossible jump shots, no matter who’s guarding him. In one-on-one, he’d have even more space to work with on the floor, and would likely dominate his opponent.
On shots in which Curry took four or more dribbles before shooting, he shot nearly 48%, including 44.1% from behind the three point arc. With his handling skills, Curry is able to get off a shot whenever he wants on almost anybody and has proven that he’s capable of hitting too. And considering how easy it is for Curry to heat up, if the game is played with the “make it, take it” rule, Wall (or anyone else for that matter) may find it tough to even get the ball.
The Case for Wall
Feb 11, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard
Kyle Lowry(7) reaches for the ball against Washington Wizards point guard John Wall (2) at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Wizards 95-93. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
As mentioned, Wall prefers to get to the rim and in one-on-one, it’s a little harder to do so because the defender can just sag off of you, forcing you to shoot jump shots. And when forced to shoot, Wall has shown that he can hit, making over 41% of his two point jumpers taken after four or more dribbles.
On layups, Wall has been even more effective, connecting on 57.8% of his shots that have come after four or more dribbles, indicating an elite ability to finish at the rim, even on possessions when he holds the ball for extended periods of time. Going against Curry, Wall would have an advantage because his ability to hit from the mid range would force Steph to guard him a little closer after a while, making it possible for Wall to then use his driving ability to beat Curry.
Most importantly however, Wall’s superior defensive ability might be what gives him the leg up. Wall is one of the league’s best defensive point guards, hounding opposing floor generals on a nightly basis. He forces bad shots, is stronger than he appears and uses his long arms to jump passing lanes and create easy buckets.
The Verdict
In the end, I’d have to go with Wall in a game of one-on-one. Not only is he faster, stronger and more athletic, but his defensive ability is what would help seal a game of one-on-one between the two. If there was one player in the league who could cool down Stephen Curry, I think it would be John Wall.
Regardless, Saturday’s H-O-R-S-E competition will be a helluva matchup.