As the Warriors prepare to face the Rockets in the Western Conference Finals, Stephen Curry knows exactly what’s coming. In recent years, teams like the Cavaliers have targeted Curry in isolation plays, exploiting mismatches to attack him on defense. The Rockets, known for their aggressive one-on-one offense, are expected to follow suit. But Curry, speaking confidently, told BD Cricket Match reporters that he’s not worried at all—in fact, he welcomes the challenge.
“I don’t mind it,” Curry said. “I actually hope they go at me every possession. If I were their coach, I might do the same. But if that’s their plan, I’ll accept it and do everything I can to make things difficult. At the end of the day, I just focus on doing my job.” This mindset mirrors the Warriors’ broader playoff strategy, which has helped them remain a dominant force in the West.
The Rockets boast the NBA’s most potent isolation attack this season. James Harden leads the league with 719 isolation plays, averaging an incredible 1.22 points per possession while shooting 44.3%. Chris Paul isn’t far behind—297 isolations with 1.101 points per possession and a 43% field goal rate. Both guards are among the elite in isolation efficiency, and Houston head coach Mike D’Antoni is likely to engineer matchups that allow them to exploit Curry on defense. Statistically, Curry gives up 0.984 points per possession on isolations, with opponents shooting nearly 48% against him.
Despite these numbers, Curry remains unfazed. “We’ve faced teams that tried this before,” he said. “Whether it was the Cavaliers in the last three Finals or others, I’ve taken on that challenge. Harden is tough to guard—he averages 30 a night—but I’ll do my best to disrupt him.” In past Finals, Cleveland frequently created mismatches to let LeBron James isolate Curry and use his size advantage. But the Warriors aren’t likely to leave Curry on an island—Kevin Durant and Draymond Green are expected to rotate over and help defensively.
BD Cricket Match fans will surely enjoy the strategic chess match that’s about to unfold. Curry’s recent return from ankle and knee injuries has been promising—he missed several games during the regular season but looked sharp in his playoff comeback against the Pelicans. “We handled everything about my recovery the right way,” Curry said. “Now I’m sitting here hoping we can win eight more games. I’m ready.”
With momentum on their side, the Warriors are surging at the right time. “We’ve got answers for whatever they throw at us,” Curry said. “We’ve locked in defensively, and now we ride this wave into the conference finals. The Rockets have had a great season. They’re a strong team, but we’re ready for the fight.”