A. Smith ignited the biggest controversy in the NBA: Brunson beats Curry, is it bias or fact?

When ESPN famous singer Stephen A. Smith ranked Knicks star Brunson as the "top of the key scorers in the playoffs" and Curry ranked second, the national basketball circle was in an instant. Is this "ranking game" led by New York media people an objective evaluation supported by data or a public opinion manipulation mixed with home complex? The dusk of the Warriors dynasty and the rise of the new Knicks reflect the undercurrent of the NBA's power structure in the war of words.

1. Fatal double standards under the data table: How good is Brunson's "Key Mr."?

Smith's core argument for promoting Brunson is "key scoring efficiency" - this season's playoffs, Brunson averaged 6.8 points per game with a shooting percentage of 51.2%, and hit the winning goal of buzzer-beating the Pistons. Curry's data during the same period was 5.3 points, with a shooting percentage of 47.8%.

But if the timeline is extended to career, Curry's "key ball" resume is epic:

The first in history: a life-and-death battle in the playoffs (G7 or elimination edge) averaged 35.6 points per game, and scored 50 points against the Kings in 2023.

Champion gene: 4 championship rings + 1 FMVP, 22 playoff series ending game with a hit rate of over 50%.

In contrast, Brunson has not yet broken through the Eastern Conference semi-finals, and his "Key Mr." title is more from the highlights of a single season rather than long-term verification.

Focus of controversy: Is it fair to use local data in a single season to deny the career accumulation of historical superstars?

2. New York media's "God-making Movement": Capital Game from the second round pick to the city hero

Brunson's counterattack story is inspiring - he was born in the second round pick and was 1.85 meters tall but he led the Knicks to the fourth place in the East, but the New York media's praise for it has exceeded the scope of competition:

Commercial Value: The share price of the Knicks parent company MSG Group rose 12% during its outbreak, and the average home ticket price soared to $580, the league's first.

Public opinion builds momentum: ESPN's New York branch has released three times the number of Brunson-related reports that Curry has published in the past month, of which more than 40% of the programs Smith participated in.

Fan circle narrative: Social media has portrayed Brunson as a "pioneer in resistance", and its TikTok topic #UnderdogBrunson has exceeded 500 million views, far exceeding Curry's same period.

Intriguingly, Smith publicly called for "protecting Curry's health" in 2020, praising his value of "defining the era". Now his attitude is reversed, and behind it may be New York capital's struggle for the right to speak for local stars.

3. Curry's silent counterattack: When the 37-year-old veteran's injury and redemption broke out, Curry was in trouble with a torn thumb ligament. G6 played against the Rockets, and he played for 42 minutes with injuries. His key three-point shooting percentage in the final quarter was only 35%. The ice-filled scene after the game caused a heartache across the network. But history has proved that the more desperate it is, the more miracle Curry can burst out:

2023 tiebreaker seven: Thumb injection of painkiller and scored 50 points, slapped the questioner in the face with "the strongest G7 performance in history"

2022 Finals: Shoulder contusion averaged 31.2 points per game, and the true shooting percentage in the fourth quarter was 75%

Warriors revealed with the team reporter that Curry's team has begun to produce a video of Brunson's critical moments and may be released after advancing to the finals - this is a arrogant counterattack of a superstar.

4. Expert camp split: Perkins angrily retorted vs Van Gundy strongly supported the opposition: Former NBA player Perkins bluntly said: "Brunson has not even touched the floor of the division finals, and Curry is the one who casts the dynasty with key balls. This ranking is a blasphemy of history!"

Supporting party: Commentator Van Gundy believes: "Modern basketball values ​​real-time combat power more, and Brunson's carry mode this season is indeed more convincing than injury Curry."

Neutral party: Sports Illustrated pointed out: "If Curry wins G6 and wins the championship, the debate will automatically end - the championship is the ultimate right to speak."

The essence of this ranking dispute is a microcosm of the new generation of stars' impact on traditional authority. Brunson needs a championship to prove that he is not a "regular season hero", while Curry wants to defend his historical status with his fifth championship. As NBA legend Magician Johnson said: "Greatness is never defined by the list, but a name engraved in the O'Brien Cup."

Breaking Point Prophecy: If Curry leads the team to reverse the Rockets with a serious injury to his thumb and win the championship, Smith's list may become the biggest laughing stock of the year - by then, the "god-making bubble" of the New York media may be shattered instantly.