The points are fully defined by Stanford; based on the scientific value for each project.
They define a so called "base credit" on a reference machine for each project. Let say 1000 points would this  reference machine get for finishing a work it of a project within a given timeline.

Now if you finish faster then this baseline (and have a qualified passkey) you receive in addition a "quick return bonus" QRB. Being faster can be achieved with high end GPU or CPU. Or also by just folding 24/7 or at least don't interrupt a WU.

Those are the 17k points you received for finishing a Work unit of a given project.

Now Curecoin just cumulate all points made for the team a day and assign you a proportion of it.

http://folding.stanford.edu/home/faq/faq-points/#ntoc1

Does it helps ?