Today's sun is really proud, all members are healthy, and Durant is back from injury. The first two games were won easily, and many fans shouted: "Suns championship!" It is true that the Suns are a strong contender for this season's championship, but compared to the cosmic braves of the year, it seems to be almost meaningful. What's the difference?
It may be that the difference is on Paul and Curry.
The tactics of the Cosmic Warriors back then were actually very simple, as the saying goes: first, the team's no-ball run plus Green's dealing, which can kill 80% of the NBA's teams; The second is the individual singles of the stars, mainly Curry and Durant, which mainly occur after the tactical execution is unsuccessful; The last trick is Curry and others holding the ball.
In the last type, it is divided into several levels, the first level is the blocking of Curry and the inside, mainly with Rooney; The second level is Curry's blocking with the outside, mainly with Thompson, and the last and most powerful, is Curry's blocking with the forward, including with Green or with Durant.
Against the Rockets and Cavaliers, when the team's passing was limited by the opponent's unlimited defense, Curry's ball blocking became the last lifesaver. Among them, the blocking of Curry and Durant is known as the world's unsolvable, and now it seems that it is indeed a bit unprecedented.
Why are these two so powerful? Is it different from the current Durant and Paul's blocking? It is mainly in the nature and characteristics of the ball carrier. Curry and Paul are compared, and it is estimated that many fans have their own ideas, but from the basketball itself, these two people represent a comparison of two styles in the development of basketball.
There's enough reason Paul is called the God of Point Guards. Solid ball control, wide vision, stable mid-range shooting, and rich experience, being able to match with different types of players is the guarantee of the team's record. Whether it was the Hornets, the Rockets, the Thunder and Suns, almost all of their teams were able to make the playoffs, and this is the power of Paul.
But Paul's shortcomings are also obvious. He needs a lot of possession, his projection from the outside is inconsistent, he can't play without the ball, and he lacks height. This is also the reason why he needs to use many off-set moves to gain an advantage in many games, and it is precisely because of this that Paul is not good in the player's reputation.
Curry, on the other hand, is another kind of player. The ability to hold the ball is advanced, but it does not reach Paul's level, but the ball is also considered top-notch, the projection is much better than Paul, and most importantly, Curry's ability to play without the ball is the first in the world, and the defensive players who are exhausted by him on the court include but are not limited to Veradova, Beverly, Smart, Bane, Murray, etc., and like Paul, Curry is good at playing small and big.
And the disadvantage is also very obvious, that is, the defensive ability can only be considered decent, compared to Paul's ability to defend from the No. 1 to the No. 5 position, Curry was targeted in the first half of his career, and the Cavaliers snatched the championship from the 73-win Warriors, of which the picture of James single-handedly playing Curry is still vivid.
But since gaining muscle, Curry's defense has quickly become the league's top outsider. This made up for his last shortcoming, coupled with his unyielding personality, and also re-ascended to the throne in the 2021-2022 season.
And after the blocking with Durant, if you face an infinite change of defense, Paul will have few choices, and passing may be the first choice, because his speed is not a strong point, and the change in rhythm can only be for big men, and it will be a better choice to give Durant to single; And Curry can have more options, in addition to passing, his three-point shooting space needs very little, and his breakthrough is also his weapon, strong Curry will be a nightmare for many interior players.
If the defense is not substitutions or pinching, Paul's shot will be faster and more accurate than Curry's, which is the housekeeping skill of traditional point guards. And Curry's mistakes on the court are often caused by the untimely delivery of the ball. In this regard, Paul has a great advantage.
And if you don't change the defense, Curry will have more options than Paul, and it will be more lethal. I believe that no team in the current NBA will choose to defend Curry when defending one, unless it is the Celtics in last year's Finals, Curry will make the opponent pay a terrible price.
In this way, Durant and Curry's blocking is still slightly better, which is why the Warriors were invincible all over the world at that time. And now, Durant is back in the West, and the playoffs are likely to meet the Warriors Swordsmen, which can let fans appreciate whether Durant and Paul Booker are more powerful, or the Warriors' splash combination is more deadly.