NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith believes Stephen Curry faces uniquely physical defensive treatment from opponents who see no other way to contain the Warriors superstar.
Smith’s comments came after Golden State Warriors’s 109-94 Game 2 loss to the Houston Rockets, where Curry was aggressively defended but only managed to draw four fouls despite the constant contact.
Stephen A. Smith thinks many teams just want to hurt Steph Curry
“I don’t know if there is a player on the planet that is more inclined to have people want to be physical with them than Steph Curry,” Smith declared on First Take.
“Because he’s such a great shooter, and he’s such a great player, and he’s such a great ball handler. Sometimes you find it impossible to stop him.”
Smith then made his most pointed observation: “You just want to hurt him. Because you think that’s the only way you can stop him.”
Rockets coach Ime Udoka seemed to confirm this approach after Game 2, noting that he instructed his team to be even tougher and more aggressive against the Warriors.
Physical defense disrupts Steph Curry’s rhythm against the Houston Rockets
The aggressive defensive tactics appeared effective, as Curry’s production dropped significantly from Game 1.
After scoring 31 points on an efficient 63.2% shooting in the series opener, Curry managed just 20 points on 40% shooting in 37 minutes during Game 2.
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This decline in efficiency comes at a particularly concerning time for the Warriors, who now face additional adversity with Jimmy Butler’s questionable status after suffering an injury in Game 2.
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Jimmy Butler’s absence could spell doom
Fellow ESPN analyst Michael Wilbon emphasized the critical importance of Butler’s presence, offering a stark assessment of what his extended absence would mean for the Warriors’ chances.
“If he misses a lot of time, it’s a wrap for the Warriors,“ Wilbon said, and pointed to telling statistics that highlight Butler’s transformative impact.
“A record of 25-27, it’s not a small sample size, is what the Warriors were before Jimmy Butler got there. That’s 11th place, that’s Play-In. That’s a completely different team, they know.”
With Houston’s physical defense successfully disrupting Curry’s rhythm and Butler potentially sidelined, the Warriors suddenly face an uphill battle in a series that many expected them to control.
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