Jimmy Butler’s Golden State Warriors debut was a statement, not just in his performance but in how seamlessly he fit alongside Stephen Curry.
Butler dropped 25 points, while Curry exploded for 34, including a 24-point third quarter, to power the Warriors to a dominant 132-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
For Butler, playing next to Curry has been an ideal setup. He credited the two-time MVP’s gravitational pull for creating open opportunities.
“They say opposites attract in life. I don’t think I could be a better complement to him, and vice versa,” Butler said in a Bleacher Report article. “They’re not leaving him, ever. Probably two people will never leave him, so there’s so much space for everybody else.”
Butler thrived in those open spaces, attacking the rim and getting to the free-throw line 13 times, making 11. His aggressive style marked a shift for the Warriors, who have been one of the league’s lowest free-throw attempt teams. According to the team, Butler’s 11 free throws made set a franchise record for a debut performance.
Meanwhile, Curry had one of his most prolific three-point shooting nights of the season, attempting at least 16 shots from deep for the sixth time in 43 games. He converted 50% of those attempts, playing a pivotal role in the Warriors’ second-half surge.
Curry himself acknowledged how different yet complementary his game is to Butler’s.
“He’s like the exact opposite player of me, which is kind of funny,” Curry said. “I’m shooting 16 threes; he shot one. He’s getting to the free-throw line a lot; he’s dominating the paint. I’m dominating the perimeter.”
Despite an early deficit, the Warriors overwhelmed Chicago in the second half, fueled by Curry’s scoring outburst and Butler’s physicality inside. Their contrasting styles seem to be a natural fit, creating a dynamic inside-out attack that could make Golden State a tougher team to defend moving forward.
If Saturday’s win was any indication, the Warriors may have found the perfect balance between perimeter firepower and interior toughness—just in time for the season’s stretch run.
The post Butler, Curry prove to be a perfect duo in Warriors’ blowout win first appeared on Fastbreak.
0 comments: