Makes History, Warriors Continue Winning Ways In Victory Over Dallas

Draymond Green recently said he believes the Warriors are going to win the NBA championship this season. With the way they’re playing, they just might. While that sentiment would have been unimaginable a month ago, Golden State has turned things around and is playing at an extremely high level.

They've only won six of their last ten, but are 5-1 since multi-time all star Jimmy Butler joined the squad. Everyone expected the dynamic guard to bring some true firepower to the Warriors, and he’s gone far beyond those already lofty expectations.

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Since being on the team he’s given Stephen Curry a true number two, opened up the floor, and created a dynamic offense that’s incredibly hard to stop.

That influence, as well as Butler’s value, was on full display in the Warriors most recent win against the Mavericks. While he didn’t completely take over, he helped everyone else and contributed to the victory. It’s hard to ask for more than that.

Taking Down Texas

Even with Dallas missing their recent big trade acquisition Anthony Davis due to injury, the Warriors’ most recent win was impressive. They, as they have in almost every game with Jimmy Butler, exploded out of the gates and never looked back.

The team dominated the first quarter, outscoring Dallas 33-18 behind strong defense and even stronger shooting

That then enabled a seventeen point lead at halftime. The second half went almost the same, with the Warriors easily holding onto their lead and ending the game 126-102.

The victory was important for several reasons

With the biggest being that it’s clear Golden State has hit their stride and their five victories with Butler have all felt easy. The team isn’t struggling to finish off games, nor are they starting off lethargic.

They are putting together strong contests from beginning to end. While they are still low in the playoff picture, it’s nearly impossible to consider them the same team they were before bringing in Butler.

A Tale of Two Stars

The ex-Heat star has done a lot for the Warriors. Not only has he put up great stats, he’s taken a ton of pressure off of Stephen Curry. The sharpshooter can succeed with or without help, but with someone else demanding the opponent’s attention, he’s cruising.

A Rising Tide

While Butler has done a lot to help Curry, the superstar isn’t the only one benefitting from the recent trade. Everyone is playing better and the starters are much more consistent, which was one of the biggest issues facing them just a few weeks back.

Now, Golden State is leaning on its two stars and letting everything else fall into place. Curry and Butler led the way against Dallas, but Brandin Podziemski added 17 points, Moses Moody had 14, and Draymond Green had 13. Quinten Post added 10 as well.

That spread is reflective of a well-oiled machine

Unlike some squads who can only depend on their superstars to carry them in games, the Warriors have two leaders who have the unique ability to make everyone else better.

“The game feels easier right now for us,” head coach Steve Kerr said after the win. “Every play is not as crucial when there’s a consistency to the game. You can make a mistake and keep playing and not feel like…We’ve got to flip things right now.”

Making His Mark

Butler is righting the ship in all the correct ways. In fact, he wasn’t just good against Dallas, he made history. The powerful guard had the highest +/- in a home debut for any Warriors player in franchise history.

His above statline, combined with the fact that he shot 55.6 percent from the field, gave him a strong 28 plus-minus for the game. That alone shows just how much of an impact he’s made, and what he can bring to the floor on any given night.

It’s also worth noting the Warriors have a soft schedule coming up

Though talk of a championship might still be far off in the future, the playoffs are a different story. The Western Conference is tight right now, and if Butler keeps up his high play it won’t be long until the Warriors are right in the middle of the postseason picture.