One of Stephen Curry‘s most disappointing performances of the season came during the Golden State Warriors‘ loss to the Houston Rockets on NBA Sunday Night game. Scoring just three points in 33 minutes, Curry struggled to find his rhythm. His teammate, Draymond Green, addressed the challenges Curry faced, while Jimmy Butler weighed in on the game, criticizing how the Rockets’ defense seemed to avoid penalty calls.
With the regular season winding down, the Warriors are looking to secure victories in their final four games before the playoffs. The loss to the Rockets hit hard in the locker room, not just because of the defeat itself but also due to the team’s performance on the court. Players, including Green, voiced concerns about the officiating in the game.
As one of the Warriors’ most vital players, Curry has long been a target for opposing defenses. However, he’s often subjected to aggressive fouls that go unnoticed by officials. Green, in his podcast, expressed frustration over the lack of calls, suggesting that referees are failing to protect Curry.
“They fear Steph as much off the ball as they do on it, if not more. He’s constantly grabbed and held off the ball because defenders don’t want to fall a step behind. So, they just grab and hold him,” Green said on The Draymond Green Show, following the loss to the Rockets.
Green’s prediction on Curry getting fouled in the Playoffs
As the Warriors approach the playoffs, with a looming risk of having to participate in the Play-In tournament, Green was clear about what to expect for Curry in the postseason. Green believes that Curry’s situation will not improve in the playoffs; in fact, he expects it to intensify.
“As soon as he takes off, if you’re even a half-step off his body, it creates a domino effect because all he needs is half an inch to get his shot off, and it’s a great look,“ Green said, describing Curry’s ability to impact the defense.
Green added, “He should get ten free throws a game. He earns them, that’s for sure.” This statement implies the Warriors may need to find a strategy that allows Curry to continue doing what he does best, ensuring they’re fully prepared for both the playoffs and potentially the NBA Finals.
Green’s thoughts on why Curry gets fouled
Green also weighed in on why Curry sometimes doesn’t get the fouls he deserves, despite clearly being impacted by defenders. He speculated that part of the issue might be the way Curry plays the game. “He doesn’t talk to the referees. He gets penalized for that. And I also think he gets penalized because he’s not a flopper,” Green explained.
He continued, “It’s almost as if, ‘Oh, he’s not getting fouled, or it doesn’t matter because he isn’t showing that he’s getting fouled.’ I think in this league, we reward flopping. We put a flopping rule in place, but it’s rarely enforced, and we reward flopping and flailing. Steph does neither.“
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