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‘Not just about scoring’ – Steve Kerr makes Jimmy Butler admission after reaching exclusive NBA playoffs 100 club
Jimmy Butler scored 25 points as the Golden State Warriors got their first playoff win of the season at the Houston Rockets. Butler, along with Steph Curry, shined for the Warriors as they made successive wins in Houston and secured that all-important road win in the first game of the series. Jimmy Butler was instrumental in the Warriors’ first playoff winGetty Warriors-Rockets Schedule Western Conference, 1st Round Game 1 – Golden State Warriors 95-85 Houston Rockets Game 2 – Warriors @ Rockets, April 23 Game 3 – Rockets @ Warriors, April 26 Game 4 – Rockets @ Warriors, April 28 Game 5 (if needed) – Warriors @ Rockets, April 30 Game 6 (if needed) – Rockets @ Warriors, May 2 Game 7 (if needed) – Warriors @ Rockets, May 4 Butler’s impact on the Warriors since his arrival in February cannot be understated, and it’s why his head coach, Steve Kerr, can’t stop praising him. “He has that impact every game,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Butler. “He calms things down. He’s very confident, he’s very poised. He always believes we’re going to win.” Butler scored 25 points on the night for the Warriors while adding six assists and seven rebounds but for Kerr, his numbers are irrelevant as his presence on the court is critical. “Jimmy is, he’s one of the best players in the league, and that’s what the best players in the league do. It’s not just about scoring or stats,” Kerr added. “It’s about settling the game down, having the presence and the nature to compete and win games like this.” Kerr seemed to be in good spirits as he praised his stars for their showing on Sunday and that might be driven by the bit of personal history he created. The 59-year-old became just the sixth coach in history to have 100 career playoff coaching wins and is just 13 behind Doc Rivers in fourth. When it comes to Butler, even Curry couldn’t resist but hail his teammate as he claimed teams have to respect the 35-year-old. “Jimmy is nice. Don’t get that twisted. He’s carried teams to the Finals and the idea of what he brings to us is another guy that’s just comfortable with the ball in his hands,” Curry told NBA on TNT. Steve Kerr was delighted with Butler and hailed his impactGetty Butler reminded reporters he’s just focused on winningGetty “To create for himself and for others no matter what the situation is… He is a legitimate ball-handler where we can give it to him in space, on the post, at the elbow. “Teams have to respect him… We’ve had a really good chemistry since he’s been here.” Sunday’s game saw Butler become the first player to have 25 points and 5 steals in a playoff debut with a franchise since steals became official in 1974. He also tied Allen Iverson for the third-most playoff games with 25 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals. Those statistics demonstrate how Butler has taken no time in settling in with the Warriors, and the fact that they are 25-8 since his debut with the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 8 reinforces that. They are also the top-ranked defense during that span. Game Two between the Rockets and Warriors is slated for Tuesday night in Houston, and Butler knows that Ime Udoka’s side will bring even more fight. “They’re an incredible team,” Butler said “Definitely a physical one…I think we handled their pressure incredibly well knowing that coming out the next game is probably going to be two to three times even more physical.”
Jimmy Butler scored 25 points as the Golden State Warriors got their first playoff win of the season at the Houston Rockets.
Butler, along with Steph Curry, shined for the Warriors as they made successive wins in Houston and secured that all-important road win in the first game of the series.
Warriors-Rockets Schedule
Western Conference, 1st Round
Game 1 – Golden State Warriors 95-85 Houston Rockets
Game 2 – Warriors @ Rockets, April 23
Game 3 – Rockets @ Warriors, April 26
Game 4 – Rockets @ Warriors, April 28
Game 5 (if needed) – Warriors @ Rockets, April 30
Game 6 (if needed) – Rockets @ Warriors, May 2
Game 7 (if needed) – Warriors @ Rockets, May 4
Butler’s impact on the Warriors since his arrival in February cannot be understated, and it’s why his head coach, Steve Kerr, can’t stop praising him.
“He has that impact every game,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Butler.
“He calms things down. He’s very confident, he’s very poised. He always believes we’re going to win.”
Butler scored 25 points on the night for the Warriors while adding six assists and seven rebounds but for Kerr, his numbers are irrelevant as his presence on the court is critical.
“Jimmy is, he’s one of the best players in the league, and that’s what the best players in the league do. It’s not just about scoring or stats,” Kerr added.
“It’s about settling the game down, having the presence and the nature to compete and win games like this.”
Kerr seemed to be in good spirits as he praised his stars for their showing on Sunday and that might be driven by the bit of personal history he created.
The 59-year-old became just the sixth coach in history to have 100 career playoff coaching wins and is just 13 behind Doc Rivers in fourth.
When it comes to Butler, even Curry couldn’t resist but hail his teammate as he claimed teams have to respect the 35-year-old.
“Jimmy is nice. Don’t get that twisted. He’s carried teams to the Finals and the idea of what he brings to us is another guy that’s just comfortable with the ball in his hands,” Curry told NBA on TNT.
“To create for himself and for others no matter what the situation is… He is a legitimate ball-handler where we can give it to him in space, on the post, at the elbow.
“Teams have to respect him… We’ve had a really good chemistry since he’s been here.”
Sunday’s game saw Butler become the first player to have 25 points and 5 steals in a playoff debut with a franchise since steals became official in 1974.
He also tied Allen Iverson for the third-most playoff games with 25 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals.
Those statistics demonstrate how Butler has taken no time in settling in with the Warriors, and the fact that they are 25-8 since his debut with the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 8 reinforces that.
They are also the top-ranked defense during that span.
Game Two between the Rockets and Warriors is slated for Tuesday night in Houston, and Butler knows that Ime Udoka’s side will bring even more fight.
“They’re an incredible team,” Butler said
“Definitely a physical one…I think we handled their pressure incredibly well knowing that coming out the next game is probably going to be two to three times even more physical.”
