Jimmy Butler is still working his way back into game shape after a long layoff, but the Warriors have started 2-0 in his era, with Stephen Curry thriving alongside him.
Newly acquired Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler is rediscovering his joy for basketball, but the fallout from his trade saga -- including three suspensions issued by the Miami Heat -- has left him far from peak condition.
| Player of the Game | |
|
EFF
33
|
| Stephen Curry | |
| Points | 38 |
| Accuracy | 12-24 |
| Rebounds | 6 |
| Assists | 4 |
Speaking after the Warriors' 125-111 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, Butler acknowledged that he's still working his way back into game shape.
Despite shooting just 4-of-12 from the field, he made up for it by getting to the free-throw line 15 times, helping Golden State improve to 2-0 in the Jimmy Butler era.
"You gotta think, I haven't played basketball in a month," Butler noted. "My wind is nowhere close to where it needs to be. I can't wait until I'm back in basketball shape where I'm used to being.
"I won't miss free throws as much. I'll have to lift on my jump shots," he added. "Right now, I'm just gassed. I'm glad we're winning. But I gotta get in better shape."
Butler's arrival also seems to be unlocking Stephen Curry's best shooting form.
In the two games since Butler joined the team, Curry has erupted for 72 points in 68 minutes, shooting 22-of-43 from the field.
"Every possession just doesn't feel as hard," Curry underlined. "You still see attention, you still see defenses, but you have to worry about something else. I want to be aggressive. Earlier in the year, that aggression didn't necessarily lead to anything as consistently as it has the last two games."
Butler hopes to regain his conditioning by Thursday's game against the Houston Rockets.
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