Lakers’ Austin Reaves Describes Guarding Steph Curry: ‘It’s Honestly Hell’
Austin Reaves spent plenty of time defending Warriors star Stephen Curry during the 2023 NBA Playoffs, and it’s safe to say the Lakers guard walked away feeling the pain of it. Reaves joined Showtime Basketball’s All The Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson and discussed going head-to-head with Curry.
Reaves admitted that guarding the Golden State star was “hell” and said during the first two games of their series, he couldn’t make a shot because he “had no legs” from chasing him around.
“It’s honestly hell, to be honest. But just the way he moves without the ball, I mean it’s honestly their system, too, it fits him to perfection. You literally can’t ever relax. And I remember Game 1 and 2 chasing him and Klay around and I couldn’t make a shot. Everybody’s looking at me like, ‘Why can’t you make a shot?’ I’m like I ain’t got no legs,” Reaves said.
You gotta be a marathon runner to check Steph ????
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The Lakers guard scored 10 points or less in the first three games of that series. He wrapped up the series with performances of 21 points, 15 points and 23 points in the final three games while shooting 46.7%, 41.7% and 58.3% from the field and 50% or better from three-point range in each game.