Another day, another loss. The Warriors just can’t seem to catch a break. This 120-112 loss against their biggest rivals in the West, the Lakers, exposed them even more. They’ve been winning just enough to lose even more, stuck in a frustrating cycle. And 51 games later, they’re sitting at 25-26, which pretty much sums up their season. However, it’s high time for them to take matters seriously, and they bring in Jimmy Butler. But before he even hit the floor, Coach Kerr threw a huge responsibility on his shoulders.
Earlier, it seemed like the Warriors had backed off from trading for Jimmy Butler. Stephen Curry made it clear they weren’t focused on a win-now approach, wanting to hold on to their young assets to build for the future. Kerr, too, was on the same page. But then things took a turn in Golden State. GM Mike Dunleavy couldn’t just sit back and watch the team get crushed, so he brought the former Heat star into the squad. Kerr then stepped in to clarify the move, sending a strong message to the 35-year-old.
“I think that’s a big reason for the trade is to, you know, help Steph, help alleviate some of that pressure,” Kerr said during the postgame press conference. “Jimmy’s a guy who gets to the line quite a bit, doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, so the possession tends to be very stable when he has the ball in his hands. And I imagine that Jimmy is going to be really important for us, both, you know, with Steph next to him and when Steph’s off the floor.”
Oct 27, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) dribbles past Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the first quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
So, Jimmy’s role sounds simple. He needs to take the pressure off Curry and give the team a solid boost. The 4-time champ has been carrying the load solo without a strong supporting presence. And we all know what a healthy Jimmy can do with the ball in his hands. This could be just what the Warriors need to address the major problem that has been holding them back.
Steve Kerr sheds light on the Warriors’ major problem, and how Jimmy Butler can provide the solution
Needless to say, the Warriors are in a crisis. Their season started strong, but then took a sharp dip and has been stuck in the same place for too long. There’s been no consistency. And Kerr, without hesitation, added that they needed an energy shift, which Jimmy Butler would bring.
“He’s excited, we’re excited to have him, you know, and he’s excited to be here, and that’s the whole point of making a big trade is, you know, you need an energy shift, and it was obvious that this team needed one,” the HC said in the presser.
However, the decision to go ahead with the trade wasn’t an easy one, Kerr mentioned. “Always tough when you make these moves, like we talked about yesterday, and, you know, I hate to see our guys, our four guys who we trade, I hate to see them go.” The trade was costly for the Warriors, who had to let Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Davion Mitchell, and PJ Tucker go to Miami. But in this league, moving on is the key, the experienced coach highlighted. That, too, when their issue is expected to come to an end.
Besides that, Kerr disclosed that Jimmy could be suiting up for his new franchise on Saturday against the Bulls, bringing his energy, hopefully, not the same kind Miami’s been getting the last month. Do you think Jimmy can live up to Kerr’s expectations? Let us know in the comments!
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