Jimmy Butler, the Warriors’ virtual sixth man

Even if the Top 6 is still a long way off, the Warriors are doing better with 8 wins in 11 matches, and a very favorable six-match home schedule. At the heart of this good period, there are some strong Steve Kerr picks, such as the one from ditch Jonathan Cumberbut also to hand over the keys to the “second unit” to Jimmy Butler.

“Jimmy is very proud when his group earns their minutes”Stephen Curry explained. “He talks about it all the time. Butler raises the level of this group » The more effective this “second unit” is, the more Steve Kerr has to leave it on the court, with elements like De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski, Will Richard and Al Horford.

More insulation

Especially this quintet which makes a difference against kings and it is the one that shows the best differential for 11 matches. THE San Francisco Chronicle also reports that the five most-used combinations with Butler without Curry (including Moses Moody, Pat Spencer, Quinten Post and Trace Jackson-Davis) won 56 minutes by a combined score of 141-113, adopting an offensive style more suited to their strengths.

Where the front five built around Stephen Curry favors movement without the ball and matchups with Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler attacks more in isolation and the pick-and-roll with maximum spacing.

“The way he controls the game is superb”De’Anthony Melton, another key element in the Warriors’ good run, reported this week. “I’m trying to see when to cut, how to set up, when to move, the areas where he likes to receive the ball. Sometimes there are matchups or actions that he doesn’t want. Almost always he can either score or draw a foul. And sometimes, you just have to not bother him and offer him a solution when two defenders close.”

When it blows, Stephen Curry witnesses this change: “We know how to organize when Jimmy has the ball in different places on the field, with the right spacing. And we have confidence: if he attacks, if he passes the ball, whatever he does, we have to be ready to shoot, to turn the game, to circulate the ball. It helps a lot when you know exactly what to do. »

Too cocky next to Stephen Curry?

Another driving force behind this pick is the fact that Jimmy Butler has regained his status as the first option on offense. In addition to Stephen Curry, he is a lieutenant. With the substitutions, he once again becomes the boss of the attack.

“He takes complete control of the match. When he plays with Steph, sometimes he can fade, which is understandable. But he is at his best when he is aggressive.” Steve Kerr insisted.

The Warriors may have found the right formula with this Jimmy Butler playing practically as a sixth man, and it’s forcing the group to change their style of play.

“It’s a drastic change in style, but it’s still a nice sneaker when you put it all together”concludes Stephen Curry. “He attacks the circle, brings the ball to the scorers, makes important shots. He puts a lot of pressure on the defense, even when he’s not shooting himself.”