Pat Riley praises Curry-Thompson tandem, says Warriors can be dynasty

[tlongII]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14...state-warriors

MIAMI -- Pat Riley played alongside Jerry West and Gail Goodrich, the guards whose exploits from the early-1970s still have the Miami Heat president saying they were the best backcourt he ever saw.

His rankings might be changing.

From Riley, these are ultimate compliments -- comparing anyone to West and Goodrich, or one team to that 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers team that won 33 consecutive games and rolled to the NBA championship. But that's the level of the praise he's doling out these days to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and the rolling Golden State Warriors.

"They are the two most dynamic players in the backcourt, that I have ever seen, since Jerry West and Gail Goodrich," Riley said. "Go back and check their numbers, 25 points apiece and Jerry leading the team in assists, Gail shooting close to 50 percent or whatever it was. Both of them could shoot it, could drive it, could pass it. That's what you're seeing here."

It's been more than 40 years, and Riley's recollection of the numbers hasn't faded. Goodrich and West combined to average 51.7 points per game in that 1971-72 season; Curry (32.7 in 15 games) and Thompson (16.6 in 14 games) are combining for 49.8 points per game this season.

And the Warriors have matched the NBA record for the best start to a season by beginning 15-0, something that Curry even called "a huge accomplishment" after Golden State got there by topping Denver 118-105 on Sunday night.

"They are in the beginning of something that can be dynastic," Riley said. "They're in the beginning stages of it, and that's the scary part, versus somebody that catches lightning in a bottle one time. They're at the beginning because all of their key players, all of them, are young and they're talented. The ones that aren't have what I call youth-age, like Andre Iguodala, Andrew Bogut, Shaun Livingston -- those guys bring an element to the team is incredible."

The Warriors could grab the outright best-start record with a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Riley believes they're primed for much more than that, and the man who knows something about championships -- he does have nine rings in his collection -- said Golden State should remain in the le mix for the foreseeable future.

"They're at the beginning of something," Riley said. "It's going to be very difficult to challenge them. But that's what we're here for."

[Dex]

This seems appropriate for the Spurs forum.

[RD2191]

Tf does this have to with the Spurs? off got.

[Russ]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14...state-warriors

MIAMI -- Pat Riley played alongside Jerry West and Gail Goodrich, the guards whose exploits from the early-1970s still have the Miami Heat president saying they were the best backcourt he ever saw.

Gail Goodrich is possibly the most overrated guard in the history of basketball. He had the great fortune of playing for the Lakers and John Wooden's UCLA Bruins.

[lefty]

Guys, be nice to guests

[Mouth is Bleeding]

ppl need to stop automatically mentioning Thompson in the same sentence as Curry.

He doesn't belong anymore.

[FromWayDowntown]

#tlongtimewarriorfan

[Canyonero]

Lol Portland

[spursistan]

throw this garbage downstairs..

Klay Thompson in the same breath with Curry

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Umm... I doubt Curry will ever sniff 37 points in one quarter, tbh

[boutons_deux]

Thompson can drive?

[tlongII]

*bump*

[Cry Havoc]

*bump*

Are the Warriors the guest team you've ever seen?

[TXstbobcat]

*bump*

how is the Blazers season going for you?????

[DMC]

What did Pat say about the Blazers?

[GSH]

Are the Warriors the guest team you've ever seen?

Oh man, you made me laugh.

This thread may not be about the Spurs, but it's curcial to discuss it.

[NASpurs]

I haven't seen tschlong this salty since LMA decided to bolt that cursed franchise.

[Mr Bones]

Blazer fans have to resort to Warrior news and cat videos... they just don't have anything else.

[tlongII]

*bump*

[Mr Bones]

Batum having a career year:
Aldridge on team that is 11-3:
Robin Lopez's new team has better record than Lilliard's team:

[Kawhitstorm]

Thompson being mentioned in the same breath as Curry

[FkLA]

[FkLA]

[FkLA]

and just for fun...

[apalisoc_9]

Draymond is actually the 2nd best player in that team and its not even close.

Hes the designated playmake when teams decide to trap and or deny curry. He really is. Its shocking how people cant seem to catch up to this fact.

Curry and Draymond is what makes that curry,thompson,barnes,iggy,draymind lineup work.. when your center is your playcaller, its hard to beat...

Barnes, thompson and iggy are all somewhat replacable with Barbosa, Livingston and some other tall guard, at least from an offensive standpoint. You cant replace Draymond and Curry