Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler classified in Warriors wins over Bucks

Things finally start to look good for the Golden State Warriors. Jimmy Butler has played two matches for Dubs, and they have been thoroughly dominant for the last quarter and a half of each of these games that landed two road gains in the process. Monday it was a victory of 125-111 over Milwaukee Bucks (Admittedly, without Giannis Antetokounmpo). They will try to add to that momentum with a Wednesday-Thursday Texas Doubleheader, and hopefully bring some swagger and a winning row into the All-Star break.

Let’s currently classify Monday’s game. As always, grades are based on my expectations of each player, with a “B” quality that represents the average performance of this player.

Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metration that accounts for triangles and free kicks. Entering Monday’s game was TS on League average 57.5%.

Moses Moody

33 minutes, 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 stealing, 1 block, 1 revenue, 2 errors, 5-for-10 shooting, 1-for-5-triangles, 2-for-2 free throws, 59, 7% TS, +3

There has been a lot of talk that the Butler trade is a signal of confidence in Jonathan Kuminga, which I totally agree with. But I also think it was a signal of confidence in Moody that has spent the last month proving what many people have suspected too long: that he deserves a bigger role.

He entered the small ball starting lineup in this game and he may hold on to this position until Kuminga returns. But it’s not the story right now. The story is the scandalous defense that Moody played at Damian Lillard.

Of course, Lillard scored 38 points on excellent efficiency – big violation still strikes a major defense with regularity. But he also committed a career-worst 10 revenue, and Moody’s defense was a huge part of it.

Finding minutes for everyone will still be difficult when Kuminga returns, but there is a reason why Warriors were comfortable with trading four players for one. Moody will probably return to the bench in the end, but I think his big role is here to stay.

Character: A.

Jimmy Butler

31 minutes, 20 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, 1 revenue, 4 errors, 4-for-12 shooting, 0-for-2 triangles, 12-for-15 free kicks, 53.8% ts, 0 +//// –

The butler era is in the process of a strong start and there is reason to believe that it will only get better. Butler – who had played only five times since December 20, admitted to his dubd debut that he was still a long way away from being back to his ideal game form.

And yet he has been the very definition of a difference. He essentially he does not need any adjustment period to learn to play with Steph Curry and Draymond Green. And he has fully laid the team on his back under Curry’s rest minute in the second half, bullying Bullying – His way to the edge. It is rare to see a player, so immediately the process of a team changes; If you didn’t think Warriors needed the things butler brings, you definitely do after these two games.

His playmaking was unusual in this game and he was so strong on the glass and defense.

Yes. I think this works fine. I can beat him down half a class if he has this performance in a month, but given that he has only been on the team for a few days, it’s easy for me.

Character: A.
Bonus after the game: Led the team in assists, tied to the team’s lead in rebounds.

Daymond Green

32 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 stealing, 1 block, 1 revenue, 5 errors, 2-for-7 shooting, 0-for-3 triangles, 2-for-4 free throws, 34.2 % TS, +14

Some things never change. In the last decade, no matter what big man walks through the doors, Warriors has been the best with green in the middle. That’s still true and Monday Steve Kerr Lille and started green at the five.

I’m curious to see if they continue to play this way or if Dubs are going back not to risk over-existing dray at the start of games. But it is very clear that the final set up most nights will have green in the middle with Butler and Kuminga. And it’s going to be fun.

Yet, huge defense from Day, though the offense fought and he was in bad trouble.

Character: B.

Buddy Hield

30 minutes, 16 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 3 revenue, 4 errors, 7-for-15 shooting, 2-for-8 triangles, 53.3% TS, +11

HILED looks fully rejuvenated; It looks like he’s having fun playing with Butler. He deserves the credit for being locked inside and playing hard, even when his shots fought for a month or so there … and now that energy is back, even when the shot has started coming back.

It wasn’t the cleanest game – he had some unnecessary heat checks, a couple of forced shots and some reckless plays on both sides of the court – but HILED is back to being an asset that makes good things happen and gives plenty of distance.

Character: B.

Steph Curry

34 minutes, 38 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 revenue, 12-for-24 shooting, 6-for-16 triangles, 8-for-9 free throw, 68.0% TS, +8

Yes, Curry seems to enjoy life with butler on the field. His new teammate makes things so much easier as they share the floor together: Butler’s screen setting, IQ, playmaking and ability to punish defense to focus on Curry opens the right to Steph. And you can see in Curry’s playing style, behavior and energy level that he feels less pressure. Curry has no longer stressed by having to build a lead before he goes on the bench and you can see it in how he plays.

Just a brilliant offensive game for Curry, and although he deserves all the credit for it, it certainly feels like the trade was facilitating it.

Character: A.
Bonus after the game: Led the team in points.

Gary Payton II

10 minutes, 4 points, 3 assists, 2 errors, 2-for-2 shooting, 100.0% TS, +6

It was only in the trade that I realized that Payton reminds me a lot of a much smaller butler. And it goes without saying that I mean it as quite a compliment!

Character: B+

Brandin Podziemski

32 minutes, 9 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 stealing, 3-for-10 shooting, 1-for-5 triangles, 2-for-4 free throw, 38.3% TS, +18

The protocol with butler and podziemski on the field at the same time is golden. Talk about two feisty, annoying, Cocky Dudes, who plays with Brash Arrogance, but still gets the smart game.

Not an effective scoring game for Podz, but I look forward to seeing him learn from Butler about choosing a shot and making contact. Even when he is not scoring, he does everything else so well, from attacking the glass to swinging the ball to drawing charges.

Character: B.
Bonus after the game: Tied to the team’s lead in rebounds, best plus/minus on the team.

Kevon Looney

12 minutes, 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 revenue, 3 errors, 1-for-5 shooting, 2-for-2 free throw, 34.0% ts, -3

Not Looney’s best game, but not just a good matchup for him, as Milwaukee really only plays with Stretch Fives. Still a good defensive and rebounding showing for Looney.

Character: C.
Bonus after the game: Worst plus/minus on the team.

Gui Santos

6 minutes, 0 points, 1 error, 0-for-1 shooting, 0-for-1 triangles, 0.0% ts, +2

Playing time will be tough for Santos to find again, and it will only deteriorate when Kuminga returns. But it is clear that he has earned confidence in both the coaching staff and his teammates, and Kerr has no problem giving him big minutes when the team needs it. Even when he plays sparingly, he seems to get out of the bench to add both energy and smart playmaking.

Character: C+

Quinten Post

15 minutes, 13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 error, 4-for-5 shooting, 3-for-4 triangles, 2-for-2 free throw, 110.5% TS, +11

Post was moved out of the five starting, but it certainly didn’t affect how much he helped Warriors. He was excellent when he was on the field and had one of the biggest sequences in the game when he hit back-to-back triangles early in the fourth quarter to transform a two-point lead into an eight-point lead … and kick a 20-4 race. There is no fear in post drained all three of its triple in the central fourth quarter. He seems ready for any challenge given to him.

Character: A.

Trayce Jackson-Davis

1 minute, 0 points, 1 error, 0 +/-

Just a little garbage time for TJD. He is out of the rotation at the moment, and with afterwards after excellent and the warriors that go smaller more often, this is likely to be the case for a while.

Character: Incomplete

Jackson Rowe

1 minute, 2 points, 1-for-2 shooting, 0-for-1 triangles, 50.0% ts, 0 +/-

Fun to watch Rowe get some NBA minutes under the belt, even if it’s just in garbage time.

Character: Incomplete

Pat Spencer

1 minute, 0 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 +/-

It is impressive how Spencer always seems to set up some statistics even when he only plays 71 seconds.

Character: Incomplete

Monday’s inactives: Jonathan Kuminga

Curry: 11 in first stint, cold second.

HIELD: 7 of the first 12 points.

Post: 3 triangles in the early 4th. To blow it open.