Warriors' Defense Draws Heat After Home Defeat

The Golden State Warriors endured a tough 104-100 loss to the Houston Rockets at home on Wednesday night, prompting sharp criticisms from veteran players Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler regarding the team's performance.

Post-game, Green did not hold back, labeling the Warriors' defense as "s--t" and stating, "We are individually f--king awful." Butler echoed these frustrations, highlighting significant defensive lapses by saying, "We don't box out. We don't go with the scouting report. We let anybody do whatever they want—open shots, get into the paint, free throws. It's just sad." Despite the Warriors holding the Rockets to a mere 39% shooting from the field and 28% from three-point range, Green argued that the numbers alone don't tell the full story.

"It's not necessarily the numbers," Green insisted. "How do you feel when you're out there? And if it's just letdown after letdown, it's bigger than the numbers. Defense is about demeanor. So if it's letdown after letdown and it kills your demeanor, it kills your bravado, then you're just a soft team." This stark criticism comes during a challenging stretch for the Warriors, who have now lost four of their last five games, bringing their season record to 10-10.

Concerns Over Curry's Injury

As if the loss wasn't enough, the Warriors suffered another blow when superstar guard Stephen Curry exited the game in the final minute with a right quad contusion. Curry is scheduled to undergo an MRI to assess the injury's severity, raising concerns about his availability moving forward.

Addressing the potential absence of Curry, Butler emphasized the need for the team to step up, stating, "I think we're gonna have to be damn near perfect. We ain't gonna have the ultimate bailout on the team. But even when he is on the floor, we're gonna have to do our job because we make the game real difficult." With Golden State now sitting eighth in the Western Conference—2.5 games shy of the crucial top six—it is vital for the team to regroup quickly.

The Warriors will aim to bounce back when they host the struggling New Orleans Pelicans, currently holding the worst record in the West at 3-16, on Saturday. However, if Curry cannot play, this matchup may prove more challenging than anticipated.