How Butler’s audacity, poise are powering his Warriors teammates

[ad_1]

How Butler’s audacity, poise are powering his Warriors teammates originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors and their fan base are getting a close-up look at what seemed apparent from a distance when Jimmy Butler III was in Miami. He is one of those rare players whose mere presence lifts teammates to an appreciably higher level.

Particularly those teammates who haven’t yet earned their NBA stripes.

This was visible almost immediately after Butler’s Golden State debut Feb. 8 in Chicago, and it was conspicuous in the second quarter Friday night as the Warriors were running away from the Kings in Sacramento.

As Stephen Curry watched the first five minutes from the bench, Butler’s presence and play were the force behind a 22-8 run in less than five minutes that gave the Warriors a 53-36 lead that was never truly threatened. Rookie center Quinten Post made three 3-pointers without a miss. Moses Moody made two shots without a miss. The Warriors were 9-of-11 from the field. Butler had three points, two assists, two “hockey” assists, one rebound in a game-changing five minutes.

The Warriors took a 15-point lead into intermission and stayed in command in the second half to gain a 132-106 victory to snap a five-game losing streak to the Kings.

“Us controlling the second (quarter) had a lot to do with the experience but also Jimmy’s presence,” Curry told reporters in Sacramento. “That lineup when I was off the court . . . when you look at the plus-minus, there’s a reason that they took advantage of those minutes because when you have a lead and you’re able to control possessions and still get stops. That has a lot to do with him and the presence and the confidence that he exudes out on the floor.”

Butler’s impact is a major factor in Golden State’s improved overall efficiency. It’s only five games, but the plus-minus numbers tell a story. Brandin Podziemski is plus-79 post-Jimmy. Moses Moody is plus-46. Kevon Looney is plus-20, Gui Santos plus-14 and Post is plus-19. The decorated veterans also benefit, as Draymond Green is plus-59 and Curry is plus-42.

Butler is plus-28. The Warriors…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/butlers-audacity-poise-powering-warriors-090852401.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2025-02-22 09:08:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.