Jimmy Butler spoke candidly after the Golden State Warriors’ 131-116 loss to the Houston Rockets in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round series. Despite the disappointing defeat, Butler remained confident that his team would regroup and bounce back.
When asked about the defensive struggles that led to the loss, Butler acknowledged the team’s slow start. “We missed some shots, turned the ball over early, and didn’t make them miss at all. That was the game for us, at the beginning,” he said.
Despite the challenging loss, Butler commended the Warriors’ bench for their efforts to fight back. “It was inspiring,” Butler stated. “Kudos to those guys for staying ready, for fighting, for not giving up. They played their asses off and gave us a chance to get back into the game.”
On his personal performance, Butler shared that his movement was improving but still not where he wanted it to be. “It’s getting better, but that’s no excuse for how I played or how we played as a whole,” he explained. “If anybody takes that floor, you’re expected to go out there and produce.”
Butler also drew on past experiences, reminding everyone of the Warriors’ resilience. “We’ve been in similar situations before,” he said. “We’re fine. Our confidence isn’t going to waver.” He emphasized the need for a stronger start next time. “We know how good of a team we are, so we’re going to play a better overall game. We’ll be fine.”
Known for his relentless competitive nature, Butler summed up his mentality. “I just do whatever it takes to win,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how many points, how many shots, how many assists. The main goal in this game is to always win.”
With the Warriors down 3-2 in the series, Butler remains optimistic about their chances. “We’ll be fine,” he reiterated, stressing the team’s ability to regroup and come back stronger in Game 6.
