Jimmy Butler didn’t hold back when describing the Golden State Warriors’ 103-89 Game 7 win over the Houston Rockets.
After the victory sent the seventh-seeded Warriors to the Western Conference Semifinals, Butler singled out multiple teammates for their roles in the series-clinching performance.
“Buddy was Buddy today,” Butler said of Buddy Hield, who dropped 33 points and set a Game 7 record with nine made threes. “We know the type of basketball player that he is… but he made so many right plays on the defensive side of the ball.”
Hield rebounded from a scoreless Game 6 by hitting six threes in the first half and finishing 12-of-15 from the field.
Butler also highlighted Draymond Green’s composure and accountability after a poor showing in Game 6, which included a pregame speech at the team’s dinner.
“Just saw Dray being Dray. Staying poised. Not let all the nonsense get to him… be the anchor for us on the defensive side of the floor,” Butler said. “He made some big shots, started us off the right way.”
The 35-year-old forward described his own leadership as a work in progress, admitting he wasn’t himself early in the series.
“My message to my guys was I wasn’t being who I was in a sense of pumping confidence into my guys,” Butler said. “I got back to being who I was supposed to be.”
Asked what changed to help Hield get open looks, Butler pointed to the little things.
“We actually rebounded the ball better. We got to the loose balls… didn’t turn the ball over,” he said. “All of that plays a role in Buddy having the game that he did.”
Fred VanVleet, who had torched Golden State in previous games, was limited to 17 points on Sunday, and Butler emphasized a team effort on defense.
“Making everything difficult, contesting every shot… not losing him in transition,” Butler explained. “When you don’t rebound and they’re kicking it out… basket gets bigger for anybody.”
He also gave credit to Steve Kerr, Steph Curry, and Green for owning the Game 6 loss, even if he felt the blame wasn’t theirs to carry.
“Steve can’t control if we’re not getting those balls… he’s willing to take that for the guys—that’s huge,” Butler said. “Same with Draymond, same with Steph, same with myself.”
Curry scored just three points in the first half but finished with 22, adding 10 rebounds and seven assists, and Butler called his performance the mark of greatness.
“He’s always got three people that’s on him… always making the right play over and over again,” Butler said. “We needed it.”
The Warriors now travel to Minnesota for Game 1 of the second round, and Butler plans to briefly enjoy the win before shifting his focus.
“I got till like midnight to enjoy this win… then I’ll focus on Minnesota,” he said.
Reflecting on the series, Butler praised his teammates’ resolve and Green’s leadership on and off the court.
“He can talk to anybody and everybody, and it’s so, like, on point,” Butler said of Green. “It’s all about winning.”
Golden State has now won 28 of 39 games since acquiring Butler from Miami at the trade deadline.
