Win Over Knicks Shows Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler Might Be Too Much for the League to Handle

It’s official, the Warriors are rolling. Really, really rolling.

While everyone knew that bringing in Jimmy Butler from the Heat would give them a spark, few realized just how big that spark would be. They aren’t just winning, they’re playing like their old championship selves.

Though Golden State does not have many players left from those past squads, they still have Stephen Curry

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Paired with a new all-star, that seems to be more than enough. As with the Lakers down in LA, the Warriors are using a two-pronged attack that’s paying huge dividends.

The NBA has long been a top-heavy league. Every winning team needs at least one superstar, but to be a true contender most need a tandem. As the Warriors’ most recent wins shows, Butler and Curry are definitely one such tandem.

Taking Down New York

The Warriors went into New York against one of the best teams in the East. On paper, it seemed like a pretty big mismatch: a squad fighting for a play-in game visiting a third seed sitting at 20 games over .500.

However, games aren’t decided on paper

And these aren’t the same old Warriors.

Things did not kick off in Golden State’s favor. They fell behind early. The team couldn’t get their threes to fall and settled for too many bad possessions.

That issue compounded in the second quarter, and they quickly found themselves down by eight at the half.

In the third and fourth, however, they figured it out

The Warriors exploded out of the break, closing the gap in the third quarter before winning the fourth (and the game).

The effort showed a resiliency that’s been lacking for most of the year. It also showed that, in the NBA, there’s no replacement for true superstars.

Returning to Form

With their most recent win, Golden State has won eight of their last ten games and show no signs of slowing down. The team is clicking on all levels; hitting shots, defending well, and running the floor.

They are also putting up points in spades thanks to Curry turning back the clock

The sharpshooter has scored 20+ points in six of his last seven games, including a dominant 56 point effort against the Magic.

The acquisition of Jimmy Butler has truly revitalized his offense and put the entire league on notice.

The Warriors were only up by one going into the fourth quarter.

When Curry entered the game with six and half minutes left, they still had that slim lead.

Less than two minutes later, they led by 11

That type of quick scoring is not something that’s been there for the Warriors much this season. They’ve been streaky and inconsistent for most of the year.

Now, they’re much more deadly and prone to the strong runs that defined them last time they made a deep playoff push.

As always, Curry is the reason why

“When he’s on the perimeter, somebody, anybody, everybody, you’ve got to the paint,” Butler said of his new teammate.

“That’s gonna be the most wide-open thing. They’re always going to overreact even when he doesn’t have the ball.”

Having a pure scorer is incredibly useful. It’s even more useful when he’s combined with a great basketball mind who knows how to cut, shoot, and pass at exactly the right time.

The Butler Effect

It’s easy to get caught up in Curry’s heroics. The future hall of famer is doing amazing things on the court with a renewed sense of vigor.

His shots are falling, Despite that, it’s important to remember why that determination is back.

Butler has been an absolute spark plug in Golden State

His ability to see the floor is a big reason the role players have stepped up. He also knows how to get everyone involved while also being able to take deep shots and attack the basket.

His 19 points against the Kicks were an example of that

Not only did he score when the Warriors needed buckets, 13 of his 19 points came in the second half. That largely sparked Golden State’s comeback and set the table for Curry to slam the door.

“Things have clearly turned with [Butler],” Kerr said. “He’s a great complement to what we already do.

Just with his ability to pass, but what he’s adding is his maturity and poise…Constantly reading what’s happening, settling us down, and creating good possessions at both ends.”

It’s no secret that Curry can take a team to the promised land

He’s just always needed a little bit of help. Losing Klay Thompson in the offseason was a huge blow that largely stagnated the Warriors.

Now that Butler is on board and playing at a high level, it could very well be time for another deep run for Golden State.