The Golden State Warriors are locked in a tough, physical NBA series against the Houston Rockets, and one ongoing topic of discussion is the aggressive defense Stephen Curry faces — something he has dealt with throughout the season. Head coach Steve Kerr weighed in with a humorous comparison to James Harden.
It’s no secret among Warriors fans that many believe Curry doesn’t always receive the typical superstar treatment when it comes to foul calls, especially compared to two-time MVP James Harden. However, that’s not a theory Kerr is eager to confirm.
Before Game 3 between the Warriors and Rockets, Kerr made a playful jab when asked about the officiating regarding how Curry is being guarded. “You don’t think you’re just gonna bait me. Are you James Harden trying to draw a foul right now? I’m not reaching,” Kerr joked, drawing laughter from reporters.
Still, Kerr has avoided publicly complaining about the officiating — at least directly. During the same press conference, even before his Harden quip, Kerr posed a broader question to the media about officiating standards.
“The way I’ve seen it in my career is that the best officials know what’s coming,” Kerr said. “They know it’s going to be testy in the first game, so you clean it up right away. You call a few things early, you warn both teams, and the game settles down. That’s the key to me when I watch games around the league: are we handling stuff early so a basketball game can happen?”
Quentin Post on the series’ physicality and his growing role
If that wasn’t enough to show how intense the series is, Warriors big man Quentin Post is now proving his value in critical NBA playoff moments. Post, listed at 7-feet tall, has firmly settled into a key role with Golden State.
“Yeah, it’s crazy,” Post told NBC Sports Bay Area. “Biggest difference, I mean, I was in Santa Cruz, and now here. Back then I was just trying to prove that I could fit or belong. Now, there’s real responsibility on my shoulders. I have an impact on winning or losing, and that comes with pressure. But the pressure is a blessing — it means people are relying on you. That’s something special.” Quentin added. “It’s a super cool situation to be in. It’s a whole different world for me.”
What type of game does Post say the Warriors must avoid?
Post had a quiet playoff debut against the Rockets in Game 1, logging 12 minutes with no points, one rebound, one assist, and two fouls in a 95–85 Warriors win. He bounced back in Game 2, scoring 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three-point range in 25 minutes.
“I don’t think anybody expects us to out-rebound them,” Post said of the Rockets, who led the league in rebounding during the regular season. “We just have to limit that and play to our strengths, which is playing fast, limiting turnovers, and sticking to our game plan.” Post said. “I don’t think anybody was expecting us to outrebound them when we’re obviously a smaller team.”
The physicality of the series hasn’t gone unnoticed by Post, either. “It’s very physical, so I definitely see the difference,” he said. “And they’ve got a good crowd there in Houston. But I know we’ll have a great, maybe even better, crowd here at Chase.” Post said. “You just feel the intensity. They play a very physical game. They probably bumped up the physicality in Game 2, knowing the ref can’t call everything.”