3 goals for Sixers guard Seth Curry: Carry over postseason momentum
Seth Curry elevated to a higher plain of existence in the playoffs. While his defense in Game 7 was a low point, he was also one of only two Sixers who could make a shot for embarrassingly large stretches of that series. It was, far too often, him and Joel Embiid against the East’s deepest team.
In the Hawks series, Curry averaged 21.0 points on .614/.596/.667 shooting splits. Now, it’s absurd to ask him to carry those averages over into next season, but the attitude and the approach — chucking 7.4 triples per game, getting crafty off the dribble, pounding his chest at mid-court — are exactly what Philadelphia needs out of Curry moving forward. He doesn’t need to be the No. 2 scorer, but the most efficient shooter on the planet should, generally, take more shots.
In the regular season, the biggest complaint with Curry was his hesitancy. He’s a generational marksman. There’s no need for him to pause and think when handed an open spot-up 3. He needs to let it fly. The more 3s Curry takes, the more the floor opens up for Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Philadelphia’s offensive core.
Curry averaged 4.9 attempts per game from 3-point range last season. That’s a respectable number, but it’s not indicative of a player who can let the rock fly as proficiently as Curry. More volume could result in a slight dip in efficiency, but shooting 40 percent on eight 3s a night is better than shooting 45 percent on five 3s a night. If Curry can carry over his confidence and shot-making from the playoffs, he will have his best season to date, and it won’t be particularly close.