Jimmy Butler expressed dissatisfaction with the Golden State Warriors' performance, highlighting the team's reliance on Stephen Curry. With Curry sidelined by a quad contusion for at least a week, Butler emphasized the need for near perfection to succeed. He criticized defensive lapses and overall execution that burden Curry nightly.
Jimmy Butler, who has played 60 games with the Golden State Warriors including last year's postseason, recently voiced his growing frustration with the team's .500 record. The Warriors stand at 10-10, heavily dependent on Stephen Curry's exceptional performances to secure victories. Curry is out for at least a week due to a quad contusion, prompting Butler to state, "We're gonna have to be damn near perfect" without their star guard.
Butler elaborated on the challenges even with Curry on the floor, saying, "We're not going to have the ultimate bail-out on our team." He described Curry's role as, "Every single day he's gotta be the Batman of all Batmans and save us every night. That ain't what he's here to do." Pointing to team shortcomings, Butler listed issues: "We don't box out. We don't go with the scouting report. We let anybody do whatever they want. Open shots. Get into the paint. Free throws. It's just sad."
Curry's recent heroics underscore the reliance. He scored 42 points, including 35 after halftime, in an overtime win against the Denver Nuggets, outscoring them 18-15 during a crucial late surge. Over two games against the San Antonio Spurs, Curry tallied 95 points and 15 three-pointers. Despite Butler's solid contributions—20 points per game on 53/46/87 shooting splits, with the Warriors 12.8 points better per 100 possessions when he plays—the team's offensive rating drops to 110.3 without Curry, ranking fifth-worst in the league. Defensively, they achieve a 90th percentile rating in those lineups.
The analysis suggests the Warriors need more from Butler beyond his efficient role, especially with his $57 million salary, to ease the load on Curry and elevate the team toward contention.