Can Curry beat Irving at the peak? After reading the 2016 finals, the answer is clear at a glance

The 2016 Finals, this is a series that has been recorded in history. The showdown between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers is not only famous for the Cavaliers' shocking reversal in a desperate situation of 1-3, but also has become an eternal memory for fans due to the wonderful performance of the core players of the two teams. Among them, the point guard dispute between Curry and Irving has caused countless controversies and discussions. Today, let’s review this epic showdown together and take a deep look at the performances of the two top defenders. In the regular season of the 2015-16 season, the Warriors broke the Bulls' record of 72 wins set by the Bulls in the 1995-96 season with a record of 73 wins and 9 losses, becoming the best team in the regular season performance in NBA history. Curry averaged 30.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game, leading the Warriors to make great strides. Not only did he top the scoring list, he also achieved the "180 Club" feat with a shooting percentage of 50.4%, 45.4% of three-point shooting percentage and 90.8% of free throw percentage. With his outstanding performance throughout the season, Curry was elected MVP unanimously, the first time in league history, and enough to witness his dominance that season. The Cavaliers performed well in the regular season, but they were still slightly inferior to the Warriors. The Cavaliers passed the road all the way in the East and finally met the Warriors in the finals. However, few people believe they can beat the Warriors in the finals, especially after the Warriors took a 3-1 lead, the championship seems to have become the Warriors’ bag.

However, on the finals stage, Curry's performance fluctuated. Throughout the series, Curry averaged 22.6 points, 5 rebounds and 3.7 assists, his shooting percentage dropped to 40.3%, his three-point shooting percentage was 34.0%, and he also had 4.3 turnovers. Especially in the critical seventh game, some of Curry's mistakes aroused doubts from the outside world, such as the slightly casual back pass at the end of the game, which became the focus of people's criticism after the game. In contrast, Irving's performance in the finals was even more dazzling. He averaged 27.1 points per game, had 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, and his overall shooting percentage and three-point shooting percentage were better than Curry. Especially in the fifth game, Irving and James teamed up to score 41 points, and his breakthrough and mid-range shot made the Warriors' defense unbeatable. In the seventh game that decided the title, Irving hit a key three-pointer at the last moment, laying the foundation for the Cavaliers' championship. Curry was a little impatient in the seventh game, with more mistakes and failed to perform as well.

Although Irving seems to have "completely exploded" Curry in the data, the word "bang" is not accurate to describe the two's match. Curry's performance was not ideal, which was a strong contrast to his dominance in the regular season. People have placed great expectations on him, after all, he is the unanimous MVP and the most dominant player that season. Irving's performance exceeded many expectations, and he gradually improved from the third game in the finals, especially at a critical moment.

In addition, the intensity of the finals and the intensity of physical confrontation are far greater than that of the regular season. Curry not only has to face Irving's defense during the game, but also has to deal with the Cavaliers' double-team and targeted defensive strategies. The Warriors' overall strength was weakened due to adverse factors such as Green's absence due to suspension and Bogut's injury. These factors together led to a decline in Curry's performance.

To sum up, Irving's performance is indeed better from the data, but Curry is not completely without highlights. To objectively evaluate the performance of the two people, we cannot rely solely on data, but also need to consider many factors such as the background of the game, tactical arrangements, and the overall situation of the team. Now, when we recall the 2016 Finals, we will not only remember the Cavaliers’ shocking reversal, but also this epic showdown between Curry and Irving.