The Golden State Warriors will be in for a tough first-round contest as they try to contain a young and exciting Houston Rockets squad from running all over them in the seven-game series.
Stephen Curry will be the primary weapon Steve Kerr will count on as the Dubs try to overpower the Rockets with exquisite shooting and experience. Jimmy Butler will also be vital for the series as the Dubs badly need his two-way skillset to stump Houston’s scoring and take pressure off Curry.
However, role players can also do as much as the headliners do. Kerr understands this as rotation pieces proved instrumental in the Dubs’ 2022 win. Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, and Gary Payton II were among the most important pieces of a Warriors side that
His recognition of strong role players may have him wary of what Dillon Brooks can do. The forward has been a pesky presence for the Dubs since his days with the Memphis Grizzlies, and the possibility of having the Canadian be a defensive lynchpin on another young and exciting roster has the media thinking about Kerr’s opinion on the forward.
Steve Kerr gets honest about Dillon Brooks’ upcoming series vs. the Golden State Warriors
Long-time Warriors fans would remember the Western Conference Semifinals between Golden State and the Grizzlies. The six-game series was an entertaining watch for neutral fans, but most Dubs fans would remember it for the incredible showing Curry had against a young and exciting Grizzlies squad.
Aside from Curry lighting up the scoreboard, it was in this series that Brooks introduced himself as a physical defensive enforcer. Brooks’ flagrant foul on Gary Payton II forced the guard to sit out multiple games as he focused on his recovery.
While Kerr was heated during the moment, he’s had a completely different take on the prospect of facing Brooks in the playoffs.
Per ClutchPoints’ Jedd Pagaduan:
“I’ve let that stuff go. I mean you know in the heat of the moment a few years ago when he closed-lined Gary, yeah, he was not my favorite guy. That was a cheap shot. I think I said he broke the code. I still feel that way, but I have a lot of respect for Brooks. He’s a hell of a player,” Kerr said, via 95.7 The Game on X (formerly Twitter).
It’s nice for Kerr to have such sentiments towards a player who liked playing a rough brand of basketball. However, it’s also likely that the long-time head coach (and Payton II) won’t let their guard down around Brooks soon.
The 29-year-old forward is enjoying a solid season for the Rockets, averaging 14.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.8 steals.
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