Daryl Morey tweeted a humorous response to Nate Silver, the editor and chief of FiveThirtyEight. Silver made a basketball analogy to the question, “what if Trump were Trump but competent and sane.” He discusses how it’s impossible to alter one part of a person and assume everything else about that person remains the same.
Silver compared the question to a hypothetical if Stephen Curry was eight inches taller.
New Sixers’ president of basketball operation, Daryl Morey, tweeted a picture of veteran sharpshooter Steve Novak, in response.
It was a humorous response that played up the fact both Novak and Curry are elite shooters. One of these players has reached a higher level of success than the other. However, Novak is listed at 6’10 and, in theory, is “Steph Curry but 6’11.”
If Stephen Curry were a lot taller, he would probably lose a lot of his speed and quickness. Curry’s offense comes from navigating screens to get open, which opens up opportunities for his teammates. in the 2018-2019 season, Alex Kennedy estimated he ran 2.64 miles per game, which was seventh in the league.
It’s possible if Curry were 6’11, he would play more similar to Novak in that he doesn’t move as much. However, he would be a significantly less effective player.
Steve Novak
Novak developed a reputation for being one of the best set shooters during his tenure in the NBA. He’s a career 43% three-point shooter. In the playoffs, he shot 46% from three.
Daryl Morey and the Houston Rockets drafted Steve Novak 32nd overall in 2006. He didn’t play much for the Rockets. He did have a memorable moment during the Rockets 22-game win streak where he hit a game-winning three-pointer.
Novak last played for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2016-2017 season. He is currently a broadcaster for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Silver is right in that it’s impossible to change one aspect of a person and expect everything else about them to remain the same. A taller Curry might not be the household name he is today.
