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Golden State Warriors: Curry, Green, Russell and company could challenge for awards this season

By Kit Shepard

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 11: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors holds up the Maurice Podoloff MVP trophy before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs on May 11, 2016 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 11: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors holds up the Maurice Podoloff MVP trophy before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs on May 11, 2016 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Stephen Curry

Let’s start with the biggest award out there. Stephen Curry already has two MVPs on his decorated resume and, if he can stay healthy, he has a great chance to add a third.

Curry and Durant canceled each other out in the three seasons that they were team-mates; the former’s exploits were caveated by the presence of the latter, and vice-versa.

Now, with Durant out the picture and Thompson side-lined, the Warriors’ centerpiece will see an uptick in usage this season.

Admittedly, due to the arrival of D’Angelo Russell, Curry’s solo effort on offense that we saw in parts of last season’s Finals will not be repeated to the same extent this year, as the 23-year-old offers an additional playmaking option at one of the guard spots.

Yet Curry will still be Golden State’s primary creator and scorer, and his numbers should only benefit from playing with Russell.

He is more than capable of playing off the ball; over one-third of his field goals last season were catch-and-shoot threes, and he ranked in the 93rd percentile in spot-ups.

These statistics validate Curry’s reputation as one of the best movers without the ball in the league. The effort he gives to get an open look is often subtle but crucial:

Alongside Draymond Green, Russell will provide the necessary playmaking to give Curry the opportunity to create off-ball, which should only boost his numbers and efficiency, the foundations of the majority of MVP cases.

Likewise, Russell could benefit from playing with Curry…

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