Steph Curry’s Top 10 plays of 2015-16

2. Cooking the DPOY

The scouting report for Steph Curry has one point of advice on how to stop him. Coaches try to put size on him. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich popularized this idea partly because he has the personnel to do so.

Kawhi Leonard had become known as a Curry-stopper of sorts. His unique combination of length, speed, and instincts make him the best perimeter defender in the entire league. He’s won two consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Pop turned to Leonard time and time again because it worked. He would be very selective with how he used his star small forward. He leaned on it in the 2013 Playoffs, but Leonard is kinda of like a “break glass in case of emergency” option. As soon as Curry strings together a couple of shots, he gets the best defender on him.

It didn’t matter who was on Curry last year. He made everyone look foolish. He was playing a different game than everyone else. Leonard was just another name on a long-list of victims.

This play shows Curry’s entire skill set. He’s extremely active off the ball, losing Leonard. Then he uses the threat of his shot to get the DPOY to bite on his pump fake. He dribbles right and goes to his stepback to hit a three.

He made beating the best perimeter defender in the league look easy. It was smooth and effortless. This play was great, but it signified so much more.

He conquered his one weakness and showed that he wasn’t messing around.