The Golden State Warriors have struck gold ever since acquiring former Miami Heat superstar, Jimmy Butler. As he wears the blue and gold uniform, the Dubs are currently 6-1 and are now #8 in the Western Conference standings.
What kind of impact does this “Butler Era” bring to the Bay Area?
A Better Charity Stripe Production
After 51 games played, Curry and company struggled as they had a record of 25 – 26, as most of these games came down in clutch. Close games required free throw shot attempts as well as making them.
In the last 7 games, the Warriors have averaged 23.3 attempts at the charity stripe while making 19.9 of them. In the entire league, that would make the Dubs sit at the #5 in Free Throws Made with a percentage 85.3%. This is a huge upgrade since the Warriors have been dead last in the league in Free Throws Made per game prior to acquiring Jimmy. They were making 14.7 out of the 20.4 free throws they’re attempting which would mean they average 72%.
Butler is a huge factor in getting fouls as he generated most of his points in the free throw line in his games as a Golden State Warrior. He has been on the line 56 times and made 49 of them which would make his FT% approximately 87.5%. He currently averages 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.4 steals and shooting 45.8% from the field.
More Than The Scoring
Aside from scoring well from the line, Jimmy, which now goes by the name Jimmy Butler III to honor the passing of his late father, has also provided a winning impact in other departments for the Warriors to be above .500 in the West.
The Dubs averaged 28.6 assists through 51 games which would be #9 in the entire league but with the arrival of Butler, they now became #2 with an average of 32.3 per game. In grabbing the offensive boards, they were #4 with an average of 12.6 and since Jimmy averages 3.1 Offensive Rebounds per outing, he helped his squad to be at #2 after 7 games as they now average 14.6. Another improvement is in the steals department as from being the #9 team with 8.6 per game, it now became 12.1 as they are now the #2.
They have also limited their turnovers from averaging 14 per game which was #12 in the league, it improved to just 12.1 per outing.
Draymond Green 2.0
The Warriors gave up a lot just to get Butler out of his rocky situation at South Beach. Andrew Wiggins was a great two way player for the Dubs as he played a vital role in their 2022 Championship but Jimmy Butler is in a whole new stratosphere when it comes to playing defense.
Although losing Wiggs was painful to watch, the Warriors have been creating great looks for their shooters as Butler now takes the role of defending the best player/s of the opposing team which then allows Stephen Curry, Buddy Hield and Moses Moody to focus on scoring.
It may be a far-fetched comparison but still, it’s great to be another defensive menace in your team that can very much well guard any player from 1 through 5. Draymond can guard the big men of the opposing team as he is used to playing the “small-ball center” he is famously known for while Butler on the other hand can defend any guard or forward.
Plus having the fact that the Warriors also have great defensive guards on the bench which are Brandin Podziemski and Gary Payton II. Podz, is notorious in making opponents commit offensive fouls as he sacrifices his body in the paint while GPII can effortlessly disrupt the offense of the opposing team with his deflections.
Butler X Kuminga (?)
It is still a question of can they play well together as Jonathan Kuminga hasn’t played yet since last January 4 which was against Memphis Grizzlies where he suffered an ankle injury.
It will be an odd sight to see when he fully recovers if JK can play the 3 spot which he isn’t really known for as Draymond Green mentioned before that playing the Power Forward is more comfortable for him. If ever, can Butler play the 2, Kuminga the 3, Green at the 4 and possibly either Kevon Looney or Quinten Post at the 5?
Considering the Dubs have had success with Draymond playing the undersized Center spot, it’ll be a tough task for Head Coach Steve Kerr and the rest of his Coaching Staff to make the right adjustments.
