Brooks of the Rockets acknowledges deliberate actions aimed at Curry's wounded thumb.
In the riveting opening quarter of the Warriors versus Rockets match on Wednesday, Steph Curry took a shot from beyond the arc, with defenders Dillon Brooks and Alperen Sengun hot on his heels. One of the players connected with Curry's damaged thumb, but the referees remained blind to any infringement.
The Golden State trailblazer, under the scrutiny of coach Steve Kerr, indicated that the Houston squad seemed to be deliberately targeting him during their 131-116 victory in Game 5 of the Western Conference face-off.
After the game, the press cornered the Warriors, who gave a well-rounded response to the suspected strategy. "You don't overthink it," Steph, who scored 13 points and provided 7 assists in 23 minutes of play, responded. "If it's a foul, they should call it."
Over the past three months, the NBA icon has grappled with a thumb ailment, and every time he feels some reprieve from the discomfort, someone lands a blow, aggravating it once more. This unfortunate incident happened in the second-last game of the regular season[1][3][4].
To mitigate the agony, Curry dons a thumb wrap alongside receiving continuous post-game treatment with icing[2]. Assured about his performance, he states, "It's something I'm managing."
Team-mate, Draymond Green, has also observed the relentless Houston defense aiming for Curry's vulnerable thumb. "I believe it's fairly apparent," Green voiced. "But it is what it is. I'm not one to whine about what the league should do."
In regards to Kerr, he emphasizes the necessity for the referees to maintain a level playing field by strictly adhering to the rules. "The rule is a shot has to be released, and after that, you can hit a player's arm," he said. "Players are always outsmarting the rules to gain an advantage."
While the Warriors remained somewhat subtle in their response to the apparent targeting, sportscaster Stephen A. Smith and other analysts argued that this tactic was an integral part of a competitive strategy, focusing on a player's weaknesses[3].
Steph Curry, who scored 13 points and provided 7 assists in Game 5, argued that deliberate infringements on his thumb should be called as fouls. Curry's thumb ailment has been an ongoing issue for him over the past three months, with opponents repeatedly targeting it. After the game, Draymond Green voiced his observation of the Houston defense aiming for Curry's vulnerable thumb, stating that it appears to be a part of their competitive strategy. Coach Steve Kerr emphasized the importance of referees adhering to the rules to maintain a level playing field in sports-analysis discussions.
