When Butler donned the Golden State Warriors uniform, it was as if a shot of adrenaline was injected into the once-glorious team. The last two games have certainly proved this. The Warriors won back-to-back games, first defeating the Lakers in Los Angeles, and then defeating the Denver Nuggets 118-104. This victory not only secured the Warriors fifth place in the Western Conference standings, but also narrowed the gap with the Nuggets to just half a game. This is not just an ordinary victory, but also a powerful testament to the Warriors’ current form and the strength of their lineup.
The team’s transformation in numbers: a strong rise in the post-Butler era
The Warriors’ overall record of 46 wins and 31 losses this season does not seem particularly impressive at first glance. However, if you look at the season as a whole, the team’s form fluctuated during the first half of the season, especially after a strong start to the season with 12 wins and 3 losses, and they only won 13 games and lost 23 games during the period before the trade deadline. However, things have changed dramatically since Butler joined the team.
In the 25 games in which Butler has played, the Warriors have an impressive 21-4 record, a win rate of 84%. This figure is even comparable to one of the most stable teams this season, the Thunder. The Thunder have won 15 consecutive games, 11 games, and three 7-game winning streaks, and the Warriors’ performance in this “post-Butler period” is also impressive. It can be said that Butler’s arrival has completely activated the Warriors’ potential.
Butler’s role: not just a scoring machine, but also the engine of the team
Many people may think that Butler joined the Warriors to boost the team’s offensive firepower. But in fact, his role is much more than that. In the Warriors, Butler is more of a catalyst for chemistry – he is not here to carry the offensive load alone, but to make the entire system more fluid and efficient.
Butler can share the pressure on the defensive end with Draymond Green, while giving Curry more freedom in the distribution of the ball. In the past 25 games, Butler has averaged nearly 6 assists per game, almost restoring his level of organization during his peak in the Heat. At the same time, the performance of Draymond Green has also improved, with an increase in both scoring and assists. The most obvious change is reflected in Curry – in the 42 games without Butler, Curry averaged 22.7 points and a 38.9% field goal percentage. In the 22 games with Butler, Curry’s average score soared to 28.2 points, and his three-point field goal percentage improved to 41.5%. More importantly, the Warriors’ record during this period was 19-3.
Young players break out: Bogdanovic becomes the surprise star
In addition to the resurgence of the veterans, the Warriors’ young players have also been reinvigorated by the arrival of Butler. A prime example of this is rookie Bogdanovic. Before Butler arrived, Bogdanovic’s three-point field goal percentage was only 32.7%, and his average score was only 9.4 points. However, in the last 21 games, his performance has taken a qualitative leap – his three-point field goal percentage has risen to 41.3%, and his average score has increased to 15 points.
In particular, he scored 28 points against the Lakers and 26 points against the Nuggets. In the nine games since his return from injury, he has averaged 18.2 points per game and shot over 50% from three-point range. For a rookie, this is a rare performance. He has gone from being an overlooked player to a firepower that can be relied on in key moments.
Improvement on the defensive end: not just scoring wins
The Warriors’ changes are not only reflected in the offensive end, their defense has also become more mature. Before Butler joined, the Warriors scored an average of 111.5 points and conceded 111.9 points per game. After Butler arrived, the average score per game increased to 118.5 points, while the points conceded dropped to 108.7 points, an increase of nearly 10 points in net wins. In addition, the team’s assists also increased to 30.3, which shows that the team’s overall cooperation is more fluid and they are playing more as a team.
In the game against the Nuggets, the Warriors adopted an interesting strategy—letting Jokic score freely without pressuring him in the early stages of the game. This strategy resulted in the Nuggets scoring 44 points in the first quarter. However, starting from the second quarter, the Warriors gradually strengthened their defensive coordination, forcing Jokic to take frequent three-point shots (he made six three-pointers in five or six minutes). As the Nuggets were short of Murray, the gap between the substitutes and the starters was magnified, which ultimately allowed the Warriors to successfully reverse the situation.
Return of the psychological advantage: breaking the curse of losing
In the past, the Warriors have always had a “psychological shadow” when facing the Lakers and Nuggets—they lost all three games against the Lakers and suffered a 9-game losing streak against the Nuggets. These two key victories not only helped them stabilize their position in the rankings, but more importantly, they have regained confidence psychologically. If the playoffs started tomorrow, the Warriors would likely face the Nuggets again in the first round, and now they have found an effective solution.
Playoff prospects: the Rockets are the final test
Currently, the Warriors have five regular season games left, and one of the most difficult ones is against the Rockets. This will be the fifth time they play against the Rockets this season, and the Warriors have won three and lost one. It can be said that this game is the last hurdle for the Warriors before the playoffs. The remaining opponents (the Suns, Spurs, Trail Blazers, and Clippers) are relatively weak, and the Clippers may rest their starters in the final game.
If the Warriors can continue their current form, they have every chance of rising from fifth to third in the Western Conference. Of course, they could also drop to eighth with a loss. But what is certain is that as long as this “new Warriors” team stays healthy and maintains its current chemistry, they will be a formidable opponent in the playoffs that no team will want to face.
Conclusion: Can the Bay Area miracle repeat itself?
The arrival of Butler has not only enhanced the Warriors’ hard power, but also awakened the hidden fighting power of this team. He has made everyone play better, turning the Warriors from a struggling team into the most unignorable force in the Western playoffs. Every game that follows will be a litmus test for this “reborn Warriors”. If they can maintain their current pace, perhaps we will see another miracle belonging to the Bay Area.
