Golden State Warriors star forward Jimmy Butler didn’t hold back on his squad following Wednesday’s 104-100 home loss to the undermanned Houston Rockets.
The defeat marked Golden State’s fourth in five outings, with pressure mounting on the veteran-laden team to raise its intensity to avoid slipping further in the jumbled Western Conference playoff picture.
Jimmy Butler Highlights Warriors’ Biggest Deficiencies Amid Underwhelming 10-10 Start
Golden State led by as many as 14 points early in the third quarter before allowing Houston to mount a furious comeback.
Rockets sophomore guard Reed Sheppard scored 16 of his career-high 31 points in the second half as the Warriors were outscored 57-41 after halftime. The 6-foot-2 sharpshooter also added a career-best nine rebounds, five assists, and two blocks, stepping up in the absence of superstar forward Kevin Durant (personal).
Butler and Co. were outrebounded 25-13 on the offensive glass, with Houston reserve big man Clint Capela hauling in eight offensive boards alone.
“We don’t box out, we don’t go with the scouting report, we let anybody do whatever they want,” Butler said postgame after Golden State dropped to 10-10 and eighth in the West. “Open shots, get into the paint, free throws. It’s just sad. … I just think we need to do what we’re supposed to be out there doing as players.”
Butler’s frustration was echoed by his co-star Draymond Green, who called the Warriors’ defense “sh*t,” noting that they are getting too accustomed to accepting defensive “letdowns.”
“It’s bigger than the numbers … Defense is about demeanor,” Green explained. “If there’s letdown after letdown, then it kills your demeanor, it kills your bravado, then you’re just a soft team. … Like, what does the other team feel when you’re defending them? And right now, they don’t feel no force.”
Compounding Golden State’s problems, its top scorer, superstar guard Stephen Curry (27.9 points per game), exited late in the fourth quarter with a right quadriceps contusion and muscle strain. The setback is expected to keep the two-time MVP sidelined for at least a week, with his return dependent on how his quad responds to treatment.
According to Butler, the Warriors will have to be “damn near perfect” to stay afloat without Curry serving as the “ultimate bailout.” However, the six-time All-Star doesn’t want his teammates to become too dependent on Curry once he re-enters the lineup.
“As great a basketball player as he is, he has a really hard job every single day if he’s gotta be the Batman of all Batmans and save us every night,” Butler noted. “That ain’t what he’s here to do.”
While Golden State ranks 10th in defensive rating (112.2), it sits 15th in field-goal percentage allowed (46.7%) and 22nd in rebounds per game (42.9). Meanwhile, it’s positioned 22nd in offensive rating (113.2), concerning metrics for an aspiring contender.
That said, Butler and Green appear confident that the Warriors’ shortcomings primarily boil down to effort, something they have plenty of time to correct, even as they navigate Curry’s absence.