It was a battle of Western Conference rivals in the Toyota Center tonight as the Houston Rockets hosted the Golden State Warriors. At 10th in the West, the Warriors were desperate for a win before All-Star weekend and they managed to pull it off to move to 3-1 in the Jimmy Butler era.
The Rockets are 4th in the NBA defensively, while the Warriors are 9th, so it’s no surprise that the game was a complete slog. It was hard for anyone to score and the teams combined for 31 turnovers. The Warriors shot 39.3% as a team while the Rockets were held to 40.9% shooting. If not for some clutch threes down the stretch by Curry and Draymond, the results might have turned out differently.
With 27 points, five rebounds, and three assists, Stephen Curry was the leading scorer of the game, and he shot a respectable 41.2% from the field. Jimmy Butler continued his hot scoring streak with 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists on 6-15 shooting. Draymond Green also showed up to play with 13 points, four rebounds, and eight assists in the win.
For the Rockets, Aaron Holiday had an impressive showing with 25 points, eight rebounds, and four assists on 50% shooting. NBA All-Star Alperen Sengun finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists on 4-10 shooting while Jock Landale put up 13 points, eight rebounds, and one assist in 16 minutes.
On the eve of All-Star weekend, the Warriors proved once again why they cannot be counted out. It was far from a pretty win, but big performances from the main cast and key plays down the stretch allowed them to escape with a victory against a top 5 team in the West. In the end, many takeaways could be drawn from the game but three in particular stood out after the Warriors’ win.
Butler’s Impact Is Powerful
The Golden State Warriors are ranked 29th in the NBA in free throws this season. They average just 15.1 per game on 20.8 attempts. Their inability to get to the line limited their effectiveness on offense which has played a key role in their struggles this season.
But Jimmy Butler is one of the best in the league at generating free throws and his arrival has been huge for the Warriors. Against the Rockets tonight, he went 6-6 from the line and helped the Warriors go 24-27 as a team (88.9%). It made all the difference in this game and made up for the team’s lack of forecourt depth.
Add in Jimmy’s defensive versatility and it becomes clear why the Warriors traded for him in the first place. His production on both ends has made things much easier for Steph, bringing the best out of Draymond Green.
All Warriors Starters In Doubles Figures
Despite the poor efficiency, the Warriors’ offense was impressively balanced tonight. Between Stephen Curry (27), Brandin Podziemski (18), Moses Moody (10 points), Jimmy Butler (19 points), and Draymond Green (13 points), all five Warriors starters finished in double figures and all shot at least 40% or more.
It was a total team effort for the Warriors, a call back to their former slogan “Strength in Numbers.” The Warriors’ 27 assists are most impressive, proving that much of their points came from moving the ball and generating open looks for teammates.
The Rockets bench put up a strong fight in the game, but in the end, it wasn’t enough to overcome the combined strength of the new-look Warriors. With Butler added to the mix, it makes the Warriors’ starting five a formidable unit but more work will need to be done before the roster is ready to compete for a title.
Small Ball For The Win
The Warriors don’t have a proper center right now and instead of relying on Kevon Looney to hold down the frontcourt, they have gone totally small instead. Steve Kerr started three guards alongside Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, who served at center.
On paper, the Rockets should have more than enough strength and size to overwhelm their opponent but it was the other way around. The Warriors had the advantage all night with floor spacing and superior speed, which kept them one step ahead.
As one of the smallest teams in the league, the Warriors will likely struggle against the top teams in the league and they were outrebounded tonight (52-42). But with Butler and Draymond, they can play like a much bigger team and it bodes well for their chances to rise in the standings in the final few weeks of the season.
Both teams will have some time off before the final stretch of play resumes later this month. The Rockets are almost a lock for the playoffs at this point but the Warriors’ future is much less certain. Butler’s arrival has helped things in San Francisco but there is still so much work to be done before they can take it easy.
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