Warriors now 20-5 since the Butler trade.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

The wins just keep on coming...

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Jimmy has been more impactful than Steph for the Warriors this season.

I would not say that. Rather, Jimmy has helped allow Steph to be Steph. You saw what Jimmy looked like in the Miami rematch, a game he could not have been more motivated to show up for.

Not an indictment on Jimmy btw, he’s still a great player, but at this stage of his career he isn’t cut out to be a #1 option. And truthfully even in the years he led teams to the Finals, I think he’d have been happier deferring to a better player, that just wasn’t an option though on those teams.

[Castle Black]

They're a rim-protecting Center away from being a legit threat in the Playoffs. Hard to take them seriously without one though. Just way too small. Also too reliant on Steph to bail them out. They need more from their role players on a consistent basis.

[EmpireFalls]

The wins just keep on coming...

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

Jimmy has been more impactful than Steph for the Warriors this season.

I would not say that. Rather, Jimmy has helped allow Steph to be Steph. You saw what Jimmy looked like in the Miami rematch, a game he could not have been more motivated to show up for.

Not an indictment on Jimmy btw, he’s still a great player, but at this stage of his career he isn’t cut out to be a #1 option. And truthfully even in the years he led teams to the Finals, I think he’d have been happier deferring to a better player, that just wasn’t an option though on those teams.

https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612744&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&PlayerIds=202710,201939

[tsherkin]

I think the most important thing is that Steph and Jimmy have very strong synergy which is working out for Golden State.

I think Steph has never cared about labels too much. He's fine playing with another high-end player, managed well even without. He handled the load offensively in 2015 and 2022, and then he did his thing with Durant, and now he's got a chance to do it alongside Jimmy. Their styles mesh quite well together.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

Jimmy has been more impactful than Steph for the Warriors this season.

I would not say that. Rather, Jimmy has helped allow Steph to be Steph. You saw what Jimmy looked like in the Miami rematch, a game he could not have been more motivated to show up for.

Not an indictment on Jimmy btw, he’s still a great player, but at this stage of his career he isn’t cut out to be a #1 option. And truthfully even in the years he led teams to the Finals, I think he’d have been happier deferring to a better player, that just wasn’t an option though on those teams.

https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612744&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&PlayerIds=202710,201939

That’s situational lineup data, if you’re inferring they could bench Curry and be better or that their best lineups are without Curry I think you’re mistaken. Also a lot of those Jimmy only minutes are coming against other teams reserves.

Again not trying to denigrate Jimmy, but I think the interpretation that he is now GSW’s engine and best player is absurd. He’s a great compliment that makes their second unit elite compared to other teams’ second units, but he’s not suited to carrying an offense.

[EmpireFalls]

I would not say that. Rather, Jimmy has helped allow Steph to be Steph. You saw what Jimmy looked like in the Miami rematch, a game he could not have been more motivated to show up for.

Not an indictment on Jimmy btw, he’s still a great player, but at this stage of his career he isn’t cut out to be a #1 option. And truthfully even in the years he led teams to the Finals, I think he’d have been happier deferring to a better player, that just wasn’t an option though on those teams.

https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612744&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&PlayerIds=202710,201939

That’s situational lineup data, if you’re inferring they could bench Curry and be better or that their best lineups are without Curry I think you’re mistaken. Also a lot of those Jimmy only minutes are coming against other teams reserves.

Again not trying to denigrate Jimmy, but I think the interpretation that he is now GSW’s engine and best player is absurd. He’s a great compliment that makes their second unit elite compared to other teams’ second units, but he’s not suited to carrying an offense.

Steph had led the Warriors to a 19-23 record in the games he played without Jimmy Butler before the trade. It’s clear that a Steph-led team was going nowhere fast. Jimmy changed all that and elevated the entire team.

Let’s just agree to disagree.

[DonaldSanders]

Lineups matter a lot. Currently Jimmy subs out at the 7min mark of the 1st and 3rd Qs, and Steph has to carry weaker lineups vs. starters until he gets subbed out near the end of the Q and Jimmy comes back -- Steph gets more time with Gui Santos, Kuminga, Looney, Buddy, etc. where Jimmy comes back sometimes for a large stretch with the starters minus Steph to beat up on bench units.

Steph had led the Warriors to a 19-23 record in the games he played without Jimmy Butler before the trade. It’s clear that a Steph-led team was going nowhere fast. Jimmy changed all that and elevated the entire team.

And Jimmy is 1-2 without Steph. They need each other and make each other better.

[Cubbies2120]

Lakers don't want that smoke with the Warriors, they're praying for the Rockets to pull thru tbh.

[nazario]

Jimmy has been more impactful than Steph for the Warriors this season.

I would not say that. Rather, Jimmy has helped allow Steph to be Steph. You saw what Jimmy looked like in the Miami rematch, a game he could not have been more motivated to show up for.

Not an indictment on Jimmy btw, he’s still a great player, but at this stage of his career he isn’t cut out to be a #1 option. And truthfully even in the years he led teams to the Finals, I think he’d have been happier deferring to a better player, that just wasn’t an option though on those teams.

https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612744&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&PlayerIds=202710,201939

Unlike some other stars Curry is asked to hold serve with a pure benchlineup for stretches of each game. Typically some form of Looney, GP2, Gui/kuminga and Hield etc. While Draymond, Butler, Podz and sometimes Moody takes the minutes right before the 2nd and 4rd quarter with 3-4 minutes into those quarters to work against more benchheavy lineups.

There is nuance to this

[Jedi32]

Lakers don't want that smoke with the Warriors, they're praying for the Rockets to pull thru tbh.

yeah ok

[DonaldSanders]

Unlike some other stars Curry is asked to hold serve with a pure benchlineup for stretches of each game. Typically some form of Looney, GP2, Gui/kuminga and Hield etc. While Draymond, Butler, Podz and sometimes Moody takes the minutes right before the 2nd and 4rd quarter with 3-4 minutes into those quarters to work against more benchheavy lineups.

And for a big portion of that for Steph/bench it's vs. the other teams starters.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612744&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&PlayerIds=202710,201939

That’s situational lineup data, if you’re inferring they could bench Curry and be better or that their best lineups are without Curry I think you’re mistaken. Also a lot of those Jimmy only minutes are coming against other teams reserves.

Again not trying to denigrate Jimmy, but I think the interpretation that he is now GSW’s engine and best player is absurd. He’s a great compliment that makes their second unit elite compared to other teams’ second units, but he’s not suited to carrying an offense.

Steph had led the Warriors to a 19-23 record in the games he played without Jimmy Butler before the trade. It’s clear that a Steph-led team was going nowhere fast. Jimmy changed all that and elevated the entire team.

Let’s just agree to disagree.

No I think I’ll continue to voice my opinion on this one. Steph led teams won 2 championships with either Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, or Andrew Wiggins as their second best player, and also set the all time regular season wins record and were minutes away from a 3rd chip. Jimmy led teams made two Finals and were throttled both times, with his second best player either Bam Adebayo or Goran Dragic.

So unless you see a huge gap between Draymond/Klay/Wiggins and Bam/Goran (I do not), the results speak for themselves. And I’d argue it’s a lot more conclusive than a ~30 game stretch in the regular season.

[RB34]

Jimmy has the ability of the refs carrying him all the way.

[Lenneth]

https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612744&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&PlayerIds=202710,201939

That’s situational lineup data, if you’re inferring they could bench Curry and be better or that their best lineups are without Curry I think you’re mistaken. Also a lot of those Jimmy only minutes are coming against other teams reserves.

Again not trying to denigrate Jimmy, but I think the interpretation that he is now GSW’s engine and best player is absurd. He’s a great compliment that makes their second unit elite compared to other teams’ second units, but he’s not suited to carrying an offense.

Steph had led the Warriors to a 19-23 record in the games he played without Jimmy Butler before the trade. It’s clear that a Steph-led team was going nowhere fast. Jimmy changed all that and elevated the entire team.

Let’s just agree to disagree.

Butler's Heat was also just 13-12, not to mention the drama. So, it's clear that a Jimmy-led team was going nowhere fast. Both players complement each other really well, and that's why Warrior took off after the trade.

[UglyBugBall]

Lakers don't want that smoke with the Warriors, they're praying for the Rockets to pull thru tbh.

Lakers matchup too well against the Warriors at every position. It would be a 4 or 5 game series because of that,

[Dubnation]

They are old and small, I expect them to get demolished if they face OKC.

Yeah, they are very smart, but Draymond just can’t defend bigger players anymore the way he used to. Towns and Anunoby were just pushing the old timer around when we played them. Hard to see how they deal with teams like Denver and Minnesota.

Agreed. The last edge the Dubs have now is the collective IQ. Can they outsmart superior teams during the last dance phase? We'll see.

[Dennis Reynolds]

I would not say that. Rather, Jimmy has helped allow Steph to be Steph. You saw what Jimmy looked like in the Miami rematch, a game he could not have been more motivated to show up for.

Not an indictment on Jimmy btw, he’s still a great player, but at this stage of his career he isn’t cut out to be a #1 option. And truthfully even in the years he led teams to the Finals, I think he’d have been happier deferring to a better player, that just wasn’t an option though on those teams.

https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612744&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&PlayerIds=202710,201939

Unlike some other stars Curry is asked to hold serve with a pure benchlineup for stretches of each game. Typically some form of Looney, GP2, Gui/kuminga and Hield etc. While Draymond, Butler, Podz and sometimes Moody takes the minutes right before the 2nd and 4rd quarter with 3-4 minutes into those quarters to work against more benchheavy lineups.

There is nuance to this

Never seen that naunce when Curry was leading his teams in On/Off. Even when Curry's teams were comfortably winning and going 9-3 in the playoffs without him we always had plenty of posters ready to save the day by posting his regular season impact stats.

[Impuniti]

https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612744&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&PlayerIds=202710,201939

That’s situational lineup data, if you’re inferring they could bench Curry and be better or that their best lineups are without Curry I think you’re mistaken. Also a lot of those Jimmy only minutes are coming against other teams reserves.

Again not trying to denigrate Jimmy, but I think the interpretation that he is now GSW’s engine and best player is absurd. He’s a great compliment that makes their second unit elite compared to other teams’ second units, but he’s not suited to carrying an offense.

Steph had led the Warriors to a 19-23 record in the games he played without Jimmy Butler before the trade. It’s clear that a Steph-led team was going nowhere fast. Jimmy changed all that and elevated the entire team.

Let’s just agree to disagree.

That.. doesn't make sense. Butler is an addition to the situation, not a replacement.

Either way even your line ups lack the context needed. Steph plays with the bench mob while Butler plays vs the B team most of the time with the main players. Saying that, Steph was objectively so much worse before Butler joined the team. I honestly thought he was a top 15, maybe even 20 player this season the way he was playing. Once Jimmy joined, even 2 games after the signing before he could play Steph amped up the motor completely. He was immediately better. It feels like these old heads like Bron and Steph need to have a proper feeling of purpose to play at their best, as their body can't just do it on auto-pilot anymore.

[tsherkin]

It feels like these old heads like Bron and Steph need to have a proper feeling of purpose to play at their best, as their body can't just do it on auto-pilot anymore.

Consider that it was easier for him to get free and get good looks with Butler providing any sort of offensive draw, which had been absent with Klay's decline and departure and all that, too. It isn't just about energy, it's about how the defense plays you on a game by game basis.

[zimpy27]

Lakers don't want that smoke with the Warriors, they're praying for the Rockets to pull thru tbh.

That's not true. Lakers more nervous playing Minnesota, Denver and OKC than GSW.