Steph Curry’s weakness is exposed by the Warriors' assistant coach. Here’s how teams can take advantage of it
Stephen Curry is viewed as a superhero without any weaknesses not defined by biological measurements. He can't post up or defend bigger guys because of his size, but he makes up for it with an offensive arsenal never seen before in NB history. Teams have tried and mostly failed in stopping Curry. However, according to the Golden State Warriors assistant coach, there's only one way to stop Chef from cooking.
Lack of sleep and rest
Bruce Fraser, assistant coach for player development of the Warriors, revealed in an interview with NBC Sports' Keith Burke that Steph's weakness is lack of rest. Teams suffered from depleted rosters due to the health and safety protocols of the NBA, and players are expected to play in a condensed schedule to accommodate the postponed games.
Keeping Curry fresh remains a top priority because of the chances of winning a title when he is available to play for Golden State. This season, the greatest 3-point shooter of all time is logging in 34.4 minutes per game. His playtime is expected to decrease when Klay Thompson returns. However, despite the limited minutes, Curry has a 23.48 average player efficiency ratio. This means even if he lacks rest, as Fraser claims, he remains productive on the court and brings immediate impact when he plays.
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How do teams stop Steph's offensive juggernaut when the only weakness he has is limited sleep time?
How opposing teams can capitalize
If what the assistant coach revealed is true, the best chance of Steph Curry slipping is at the end of back-to-backs or back-to-back-to-backs. However, history tells us Dell Curry's son still found ways to score during those games.
The science of rest and its benefits to a player cannot be undermined in the modern NBA. Athletes spend millions on food and recovery regimens to stay in top shape. Lack of rest also affects how the mind thinks and reacts. For example, a split-second delay in judgment could lead to a loss or an injury.
The Warriors have done a great job managing Curry's minutes, especially since he's had various injuries in the past. His problematic ankles, which bothered him when he was still a few years in the league, are now fine and never had been better.
Curry can have his much-needed rest if the Warriors can put enough separation between them and the rest of the league heading to the playoffs. And this means bad news for the rest of the league: a healthy, rested, and happy Curry is one of the most lethal players in NBA history.