Rockets' decade-long Steph Curry nightmare could gain yet another chapter

The Rockets have been haunted by Stephen Curry for over a decade at this point, and the torment could continue tonight as Curry is reportedly planning to play for the first time in two months. Houston is in close playoff races with hopes to draw a favorable opponent in the first round, so a loss to the Warriors can be disastrous. If Curry can upset the Rockets, the loss could have huge ramifications heading into the postseason.

Steph Curry can ruin the Rockets' season once again

For the last two months, the Warriors have been a pushover. They've gone 9-18 since Curry went down with injury, and plenty of other Western playoff contenders have gotten easy wins off them. Ironically, the Rockets account for one of those 9 wins even without Curry. They lost to the injured Warriors on March 5th behind strong performances from other guards.

Curry returning just in time to face the Rockets is a nightmare scenario for Houston fans. The Baby-Faced Assassin has regularly brought heartbreak to the Rockets since first beating them in the 2015 Playoffs. Now, he could be on track to force the Rockets into a tougher playoff matchup in a season where they have obvious flaws. Falling to a lower seed and facing a team like the Nuggets in the first round may doom the Rockets to a disappointing playoff outcome.

Last season, Curry continued his dominance over the Rockets by leading the Warriors to a first-round series win. Despite Golden State being the 7th seed against the 2nd seeded Rockets, they were viewed as the favorites due to Curry's starpower. The series was an intense and close affair that went 7 games, but Curry ultimately prevailed. He averaged 24 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists per game while maintaining his trademark efficiency.

The Rockets wish they had someone like Curry

Every time Curry and the Warriors play the Rockets, it's a reminder of what Houston is missing. Steph has always been able to dominate himself and elevate his teammates seamlessly with his unique off-ball playstyle. His playmaking has stood out, even compared to other players who average more assists, because of his gravity. And of course, he is often unguardable in the clutch when he gets going.

Despite being labeled as one-dimensional by some casuals, Curry has proven time and time again to Rockets fans that he has no true offensive weaknesses. He's been the perfect foil for every iteration of the Rockets' playoff hopes for years and years on end. If he is able to make his return tonight, he can add even more fuel to his legacy as the Rockets' biggest bogeyman.