The NBA regular season has entered the final sprint, the players' performance has stabilized, and it is time to think about the award. Looking back at last season's best team, led by Doncic, Booker, Tatum, Alphabet and Jokic. Although Stephen Curry defeated the Celtics and won the NBA championship, he still failed to make the lineup. So this season (2022-2023), can Curry be selected for a team?
The answer is basically impossible, because the library faces a lot of strong competitors. First and foremost is Doncic, averaging 33 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game, and is one of the MVP favorites this season. He continued to perform very well after bringing in Irving, and played very well against the Jazz (29 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists), the Suns (34 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists), the 76ers (42 points, 4 rebounds and 12 assists) and the Pacers (39 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists). Doncic, as a benchmark in the league and Harden's successor, will basically lock up a spot in the following season. Therefore, as he gets older, it will become more and more difficult for Curry to be selected for the best team.
Morant is also a very strong competitor, averaging 27.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 8.2 assists this season, and the Grizzlies have the third highest record in the West. Curry's average of 29.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game seems to be not falling behind, but the Warriors' record has fallen to 7th in the West. Since Curry's comeback, the Warriors have suffered a wave of three consecutive losses, whether it is personal data or records, Morant is not lost to Curry, not to mention, Morant still has a young advantage. Although Morant has been affected by the recent shooting, his strength is unquestionable and one of the important faces of the league's future. Therefore, Xiao Hua may be more inclined to protect Morant and make him a regular for a while.
So, Curry can only be selected for the second team? The answer is yes and no, there are competitors. First of all, Booker, as a member of last season's team, is still unstoppable this season, averaging 27.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game so far this season, and the Suns record is fourth in the West, and there is a possibility for further improvement. Since Durant's arrival, Booker has played explosively in recent games: playing only 27 minutes in the Thunder, cutting 44 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists; Playing the Lone Ranger scored 36 points; Hitting the bull is another 35 points; There are still 37 points left for hitting the Wasp. Booker's overall performance is obviously higher than Curry's, there are two guard spots in the best team, if Booker can't get into the first team, the second team must enter, and the Suns are likely to be the NBA championship this season.
And there's Mr. Lillard '71, in terms of data. Lillard has averaged 32.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.3 assists so far this season, and in recent times, Lillard has played consecutive explosive performances, such as playing 31 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists with the Pistons, 41 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists against the Magic, and before against the Hawks, Lillard hit 33 points and 8 assists, which impressed us, Lillard's disadvantage is that the record is average (13th in the West), but with the 75-year-old man's violent scoring ability, the second team reserved a seat for him.
The above four stars have basically booked four guard spots in the best first and second teams. So can Curry be named to the third team? Don't worry, there are competitors: first of all, the Cavaliers' star Mitchell (another 71-point gentleman this season), who currently averages 27.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, and the Cavaliers rank fourth in the East;
There is also James Harden of the 76ers, averaging 22 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds per game, the 76ers record is the 3rd in the East and 4th in the league, he is the engine of the 76ers, and he ranks 9th on the latest MVP list, such an excellent guard, you don't give a three-team spot, can't say it. If Mitchell or Harden fail to make the third team, is Curry's selection in the third team a certainty? The answer is still no, and:
The Lone Ranger's Irving is also very promising, averaging 27.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game, scoring 27 points, 33 points, 30 points, 40 points in the last four games, and has a three-game winning streak when he led the Lone Ranger alone.
If you want to talk about competitive guards, the Knicks' Brunson also has a fight. Averaging 23.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game this season, he is the Knicks' fifth-key player in the East.
To sum up, there is Doncic + Booker in one team, Morant + Lillard in the second team, Harden + Irving in three teams, or Harden + Mitchell, Curry may not play in three teams this time, mainly because there are too many competitors, moreover, after Curry's comeback, the Warriors have a very bad record and are likely to end up missing the playoffs, because the next Warriors' opponents are the Suns, Bucks and Clippers, which are scary to think about, it's hell.