With Butler’s help, Warriors are getting their swagger back

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With Butler’s help, Warriors are getting their swagger back originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors have rediscovered their bravado and are brandishing it like a threatened viper bares its fangs. They have no credibility as bullies, but they’re acting the part and, moreover, getting away with it. They’re starting to believe they’ll earn it.

When the fourth quarter started Monday night in Milwaukee, the Warriors had a six-point lead and were being outshot by the Bucks. Two minutes later, the Bucks were within two. “Clutch game” clouds were forming, and that often means a storm is waiting.

Not so on this night. The Warriors took over the final 10 minutes, recording six steals, getting 11 points each from Stephen Curry and Quinten Post, and outscoring the Bucks 33-21 to strut out of Fiserv Forum with a 125-111 victory. This was Golden State’s second consecutive win that was closed with levels of intellect, tenacity and conviction often missing this season. And it stems from the presence of Jimmy Butler.

“It’s made sense so far,” Curry told reporters in Milwaukee. “We’ve put together, after the first half in Chicago [on Thursday], six pretty good quarters with intentionality, good effort. You see the positives of what Jimmy brings on both ends of the floor. Just a high IQ guy, a competitor who plays under control all the time.”

Intellect, tenacity and conviction, all required for the Warriors to reach their ceiling, were variable in the first two games of this road trip, with the Warriors outscored 20-6 in the final three minutes against the Utah Jazz last Wednesday and on Thursday fell behind 20-8 six minutes after tipoff against the Lakers in Los Angeles.

There were numerous encouraging signs for Golden State in Monday’s win, but Butler’s second consecutive uplifting appearance was the most visible. He was as impactful on this night as in their second-half destruction of the Bulls on Saturday in Chicago.

“The guys feel really good about these two games, recognizing that both games were games we might have lost earlier in the season,” coach Steve Kerr said. “The fact…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/butlers-help-warriors-getting-swagger-233943743.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2025-02-10 23:39:00

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