Currying Favor: Selective Criticism of Stephen by Alleged Experts is Misplaced

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player when shattering the league's record for most three-pointers, neither is too small nor too fragile despite missing portion of the regular-season because of injury. A 33-point second-half explosion at Houston in eliminating the Rockets showed again what is too small and fragile are the brains of any genius who overlooked the Davidson All-American for significantly inferior performers as a high school recruit, those who subsequently bypassed him in a similar fashion in the NBA draft and blabbermouth such as Charles Barkley claiming Curry is "just a shooter." Whether or not it's simply superficial envy because Curry continues his reign as the best-selling NBA jersey, even LeBron James and Russell Westbrook appeared annoyed with his hype.

Legendary Oscar Robertson came close to joining the condemnation chorus by saying "coaches today don't know anything about defenses." The Big O scored more valid points than Sir Charles on the state of the game but their "mid-major" mistake was including Curry in any critique. By any measure, Curry can compete in any era against anybody after becoming the first unanimous MVP in NBA history. Knuckleheads offended by Curry's dynamo daughter at a post-game press conference podium should have saved their angst for those individuals on a basketball payroll despite shunning Curry - occasionally including media or front-office colleagues.

In retrospect, it defies belief ESPN "expert" Seth Greenberg wasn't among their series of layoffs after boasting the gall to patronize Virginia Tech All-American Dell Curry's son by offering a spot on the Hokies' roster as a walk-on before the Minnesota Timberwolves picked long-forgotten Jonny Flynn one slot ahead of the incomparable Curry in 2009. In other words, Greenberg and the Timberwolves are the only individual and pro team capable of stopping Curry. Of course, Loyola (Md.) is the only college capable of containing Curry, holding the nation's top point producer scoreless in a 2008-09 contest.

In a previous non-sexist straightforward generation when announcers were significantly more knowledgeable about hoops than ESPN's Michelle Beadle and Rachel Nichols, Stockton-to-Malone could have been a hallmark of the Washington Bullets/Wizards rather than the Utah Jazz if there were more astute judgments made in 1984 and 1985 between mid-major and SEC/ACC players. Smug egghead prosecutors seeking face time appealing to low-information voters by indicting hard-working policemen probably would have more stature probing low-intelligence individuals previously laying an egg bypassing workmanlike Curry. Following is an alphabetical list of mid-major standouts selected behind players from current power conference members before they became league MVP such as Curry, Finals MVP, appeared in five or more All-Star Games or all-time Top 10 in assists, blocked shots, rebounds or steals:

NOTE: Drafts in 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963 and 1964 included territorial picks.