“Curry & Butler Are UNSTOPPABLE!” – Stephen A. Smith Says Warriors Will Stun Everyone in Playoffs
“If Steph Curry gets hot… Houston might be going home faster than anyone thought.”

As the NBA Playoffs heat up, all eyes are on the first-round matchup between the seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors and the upstart No. 2 Houston Rockets. While the Rockets are hungry and physical, boasting a new wave of young talent and a gritty edge led by Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith isn’t buying the hype—because in his eyes, one factor tilts the series: Stephen Curry.

And he’s not alone.

“The Rockets might think they’re ready,” Smith said in a fiery segment on ESPN’s First Take, “but if Curry gets going—and you throw Jimmy Butler into the mix—it’s going to get ugly. Fast.”

Yes, you read that right—Jimmy Butler. A midseason acquisition for the Warriors that stunned the NBA landscape. And according to Smith, the combination of Curry and Butler could dismantle any hopes Houston has of a deep postseason run.

The Rockets’ Grit vs. The Warriors’ Experience

Analyst Alan Hahn agrees that Houston can’t be overlooked. “This Rockets team plays hard. They’re physical. They’ve beaten Golden State at Chase Center. They’re not scared anymore,” Hahn said. “If the officiating allows them to play their game—real tough, real physical—the Rockets have a legit chance.”

But that’s a big if.

Stephen A. countered, “You let Steph get hot, and it’s over. You give him four inches of space, and he’s draining threes in your face. Add Jimmy Butler’s killer instinct? That’s too much firepower.”

Statistically, the Rockets lead the league in opponent free-throw percentage and are one of the most foul-prone teams. But the irony? The Warriors—despite their status as a shooting powerhouse—rank near the bottom in free-throw efficiency. It’s a weird wrinkle that could shift the series.

Still, Hahn believes that playoff experience will ultimately decide it: “The Warriors have been through battles. They’ve got the rings. The Rockets? They’ve got potential, but they’re still learning how to win.”

Draymond vs. Dillon: The Mind Games Begin

Beyond the stats, one matchup looms large: Draymond Green vs. Dillon Brooks. Two of the league’s most notorious agitators. And they’re already circling each other mentally.

“Originally, I was more worried about Draymond,” Danny Green admitted on the show. “He tends to lose his cool. And when Draymond’s out of the game, Golden State loses its identity.”

But Stephen A. flipped the script.

“Dillon Brooks just poked the bear,” Smith said. “You heard what he said—‘I’m not getting ejected, I’ll leave that to somebody else.’ That wasn’t shade. That was a direct shot at Draymond Green.”

Smith believes Green won’t just absorb that insult—he’ll use it. “Draymond’s not going to get rattled. He’s going to bait Dillon Brooks into a mistake. This isn’t just about physicality. It’s chess. And Draymond’s the grandmaster.”

Still, the tension will be palpable. One ejection could shift momentum. One technical foul could turn into two. The NBA might need a separate scoreboard just for the antics.

Could the Warriors Surprise Everyone?

In one of the more surprising moments of the show, Stephen A. admitted he’d be less shocked if the Warriors got eliminated by Houston than if they made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

“If they beat Houston, then they’d have to face the Lakers next—LeBron and Luka. That’s a gauntlet,” Smith said. “For them to reach the conference finals, they’d have to knock off a young, physical Rockets team and then outlast LeBron and Luka? That’s asking a lot.”

But co-hosts weren’t so quick to count them out.

“If anyone can pull it off, it’s this Warriors squad,” Danny Green argued. “You’ve got Steph, Draymond, Jimmy, and Steve Kerr on the sideline. They’ve seen everything.”

And while the Rockets might have athleticism and aggression, the Warriors bring discipline and championship DNA.

LeBron, Luka… and the Wild West

Meanwhile, in the other marquee matchup, the Lakers are squaring off against Minnesota. And if the Warriors do make it out of the first round, they’ll likely face one of the most dangerous duos in the game: LeBron James and Luka Dončić.

“LeBron’s groin injury worries me,” Stephen A. admitted. “But give him eight or nine days off? That man will come back like a lion.”

There’s also talk of rising stars like Naz Reid and Anthony Edwards stepping up for Minnesota if Luka stumbles, but Smith wasn’t convinced.

“I can pencil in LeBron. I can’t pencil in anyone from Minnesota if Ant-Man goes cold,” he said.

The Verdict

So who takes it?

“This series is going to be emotional. It’s going to be gritty. It’s going to be a battle of will,” Smith said. “But if you’re asking me who walks out of this with their head held high? I’m putting my money on Curry and Butler. They’re just too elite when it counts.”

The stage is set. The mind games are already underway. And when the ball tips off, it won’t just be a game—it’ll be a war.

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