Jimmy Butler put on a clinic Saturday night, doing what he does best-controlling the tempo, making the right reads, and setting up his teammates in a 104-96 win over the Pelicans. It was vintage Butler in many ways: unselfish, efficient, and surgical. But while the box score shows 10 assists, the eye test says he could’ve had several more if Golden State’s supporting cast had held up their end of the bargain.
The Warriors shot just over 40% from the field and a rough 25.5% from deep. Those numbers are tough to stomach for a team built around spacing and ball movement, especially on a night where Stephen Curry was sidelined.
Gary Payton II gave them a spark, but outside of that, it was a struggle. And when Butler is in full facilitator mode, as he was against New Orleans, Golden State needs more from the guys around him-plain and simple.
Butler’s Playmaking Deserves Better Spacing
Butler’s game has always thrived when surrounded by shooters who can stretch the floor and make defenses pay for collapsing. That’s not quite the case right now in Golden State.
Take Brandin Podziemski, for example. The rookie guard took a season-high nine threes against the Pelicans, which on paper looks like progress.
But the hesitation is still there-too many pump fakes, too much second-guessing. It’s the kind of indecision that clogs up the offense and undercuts what Butler is trying to create.
The numbers tell the story. In Butler’s last full season in Miami, he shared the floor with six teammates who shot at least 39.5% from three.
That kind of spacing allowed him to pick apart defenses with precision. Fast forward to now, and Butler himself leads the Warriors in three-point percentage at 43.6%.
Moses Moody is next at 39.2%, but after that, there’s a steep drop-off. The rest of the rotation just isn’t giving him the kind of shooting support he needs to fully unlock his playmaking.
Seth Curry Signing Helps, But It’s Not a Cure-All
Golden State is clearly aware of the issue. The front office is reportedly bringing back veteran sharpshooter Seth Curry on a rest-of-season deal.
It’s a smart move-Curry’s shooting gravity alone can help open up the floor. But at this stage of his career, expecting him to play heavy minutes or be a game-changer every night might be unrealistic.
He’ll provide a boost, sure, but he’s not the full solution.
The bigger fix has to come from within the current rotation. Podziemski and Moody are logging serious minutes next to Butler, and their consistency-or lack thereof-is becoming a defining factor in how effective the offense can be.
Then there’s the center duo of Al Horford and Quinten Post, who are combining to shoot under 32% from deep. That’s a problem when you’re trying to space the floor around a high-IQ driver like Butler.
What Comes Next for Golden State?
If the Warriors want to make the most of Butler’s unique skill set, they need to surround him with players who can hit open shots and keep the floor spaced. That’s always been the formula with him. He doesn’t need to score 30 every night to dominate a game-he just needs teammates who can finish the plays he creates.
But if the inconsistency from the supporting cast continues, Golden State’s front office may have to take a hard look at the roster as the trade deadline approaches. Because this version of the Warriors, as currently constructed, isn’t maximizing what Butler brings to the table. And with Stephen Curry’s availability still in flux, the margin for error is thinner than ever.
Butler is doing his part. Now it’s up to the Warriors to give him the right pieces to make this thing work.