NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith believes Stephen Curry faces his own physical defensive treatment from enemies who believe there is no other way to contain the Warriors superstar.
Smith’s comments came after the Golden State Warriors’ defeat to the Houston Rockets in 109-94 Game 2. There, Curry was actively defended, but only attracted four fouls despite constant contact.
“I don’t know if there are any players on Earth who tend to want to be physical with them more than Steph Curry,” Smith declared in First Take.
“He is a really great shooter, he is a really great player and he is a really great ball handler.
Smith then made his most pointed observation: “You just want to hurt him, because I think that’s the only way you can stop him.”
Rockets coach Ime Udoka appears to have confirmed this approach after Game 2, noting that he instructed the team to be even more rigorous and more aggressive against the warriors.
As curry production fell sharply from Game 1, the aggressive defensive tactics looked effective.
After scoring 31 points with efficient 63.2% shooting in the series opener, Curry managed just 20 points with 40% shooting in the 37 minutes of Game 2.
This drop in efficiency is particularly concerning for the Warriors, who are now facing more adversity after being injured in Game 2 after Jimmy Butler’s suspicious position and now facing even more adversity.
ESPN fellow analyst Michael Wilbon highlighted the important importance of Butler’s presence and provided a rigorous assessment of what his long absence would mean for the Warriors’ chances.
“If he misses a lot of time, it’s a rap for the warrior,” Wilbon said, noting that he conveys statistics highlighting Butler’s transformational impact.
“The 25-27 record isn’t a small sample size. The Warriors were there before Jimmy Butler got there. It’s 11th place. It’s a play-in. It’s a completely different team.”
Houston’s physical defense faces a sudden, difficult battle in a series that many hoped to control, as curry’s rhythm and Butler could potentially be on the sidelines.