Guarding Steph Curry isn’t easy. That guy is one of the best shooters of all-time, and considering the team he plays on, it’s just about impossible to zero in on him when guys like Kevin Durant or Klay Thompson are right out there too.
But of all the players in the NBA, the most successful Steph defender may be an unexpected one. ESPN analytics guru Kirk Goldsberry broke down the tracking numbers, examining the points allowed by individual defenders against Steph this season (per 100 possessions, to account for differences in raw totals).
By a wide margin, the most successful defender on balance has been... Fred VanVleet!
Stunning, considering some of the other names on that list. Second to FVV, Eric Bledsoe was an All-Defensive Team player this season. Noted grit-and-grinders Patrick Beverley, Marcus Smart and PJ Tucker were all near the chart’s midpoint.
Of course, Raptors fans know that FVV is a highly capable defender in his own right, but to be the most successful Steph matchup in all of the league this season is just impressive. Just from the Raptors alone, you might’ve expected Kawhi Leonard instead, or at least one of the starters!
It certainly bodes well for the rest of this series, going forward. He turned in a strong performance in the Raptors’ Game 1 win, and you can tell that fans are loving the work that FVV’s putting in right now.
