Dub Hub: Draymond Green says Playoff Jimmy Butler is a ‘real thing’

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Thursday, April 17th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Draymond Green says Playoff Jimmy Butler is a “real thing” after he finished the Warriors’ Play-In game with a team-high 38 points.
• NBA Last 2 Minute report says refs made four errors late in the Warriors-Grizzlies game.
• Klay Thompson’s five three-pointers helps lead Mavericks to 120-106 victory over the Kings in the Play-In Tournament.

The Golden State Warriors needed a star to rise alongside Stephen Curry in Tuesday night’s Play-In Tournament showdown against the Memphis Grizzlies—and Jimmy Butler delivered like only “Playoff Jimmy” can.

Butler erupted for a team-high 38 points in the Warriors’ 121-116 win over Memphis, clinching their spot in the NBA playoffs and setting up a First Round matchup against the Houston Rockets on Sunday.

Many questioned whether Butler—who averaged just 17.9 points on 11.1 field goal attempts per game in the two months since joining the Warriors—could elevate his game when it mattered most. But over the past two games, he’s answered that question emphatically, recording back-to-back performances of 30 points or more while putting up 20 field goal attempts in each outing—his most aggressive stretch since arriving in the Bay.

For Draymond Green, watching Butler’s playoff transformation up close wasn’t just impressive—it was confirmation that Playoff Jimmy is still a “real thing.”

Now, with four days of rest and Butler locked in, the Warriors will head into their series against Houston with renewed belief that they have the firepower to make a deep push this postseason.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, April 17th:

Warriors News:

Bah Gawd, That’s Playoff Jimmy’s Music | The Ringer

But what happens when one of the greatest contact seekers in NBA history faces off against one of the most foul-prone starting frontcourts in the league? Butler recorded a staggering 18 free throw attempts, nearly as many as the entire Grizzlies starting lineup combined (20). Since 2019-20, there hasn’t been a soul in the league who has matched Butler’s combination of high usage and a free throw attempt rate of .609—a higher rate over six seasons than even prime Shaq on the Lakers (a player teams literally fouled on purpose). Butler’s unique gift of foul drawing is an element to the game that the Warriors had never experienced until now.

NBA says refs made 4 errors late in Grizzlies-Warriors finish | ESPN

The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report said the officiating crew of Josh Tiven, Bill Kennedy and Nick Buchert should not have called a personal foul on Golden State point guard Brandin Podziemski when he made what was a block on Scotty Pippen Jr. near the basket with 37 seconds left.

Podziemski was called for a foul, resulting in two free throws for Pippen. The Grizzlies point guard made one of two to cut the Warriors’ lead to 117-114.

Steph Curry’s Warriors have done it all, but Tuesday’s win was something different | The Athletic

“I don’t know exactly what point in the year it was,” Curry said, “when we were below .500, and after a 12-3 start, emotional roller coaster of a season. For us to be able to climb our way back into relevancy, and then trick off a couple opportunities to get it done within the (regular season). It just came down to having one game where we just get a win however we could, and thankfully it happened.

“And now with some clarity on who we are playing in a playoff series, a great Houston team that has had an amazing year. Just a sense of relief that we have something to look forward to now, and excited about the challenge.”

Jimmy Butler is helping Warriors extend their remarkable era of contention | The Athletic

“Look, I’m not gonna say I’m not hungry, but I’m doing this for Steph,” Butler told The Athletic. “I’m doing this for Dray. I’m doing this for these guys. As much as I want to win a championship, I want Dray to win another one. I want Steph to win another one. I know I ain’t got mine yet, but they deserve it. They’ve been putting this city and this organization on their back for a very long time, and I’m glad that I can be here to try and do something special.”

Draymond Green on Jonathan Kuminga’s role against Houston: “He’ll be meaningful for us in that series”

NBA News:

Klay Thompson, Mavericks oust Kings, keep playoff hope alive | ESPN

Thompson provided a vintage performance for the rest of the Dallas Mavericks’ 120-106 win over the Sacramento Kings. He finished with 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range, a stark contrast to his 0-of-10 misery when the Kings eliminated the Golden State Warriors in the four-time champion’s final game with his original franchise.

“It did feel good to exorcise those demons in here. Man!” Thompson said during his on-court postgame interview with Scott Van Pelt on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”

The Nikola Jokić effect: How the quiet MVP front-runner gets the most out of his teammates | The Athletic

With no one on him, Brown then cut to the basket, figuring Jokić could hit him for an easy layup. Instead, Jokić tossed a no-look pass far behind him and out of bounds. Later in the game, Jokić explained why.

“Don’t cut,” he told Brown. “I’m listening to your voice.”

Jokić, like a bat, can tell where people are just by where sound waves originate. From that point on, Brown never cut after yelling for the ball; Jokić hit him with no-look dimes constantly.

“That was crazy to hear from a teammate,” Brown said. “I’ve never heard that before.”

ESPN’s Shams Charania says Kevin Durant and the Rockets have a ‘level of mutual interest’ when it comes to a trade

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Player grades: Warriors vs. Grizzlies

Refs

I normally don’t like to pick on the refs, but, given the point of the game, that ghost call on Looney was tied with the loose ball foul on Kuminga in December’s loss to the Rockets for the worst call I can remember in recent years. Thankfully, unlike the one on Kuminga, it didn’t prove costly. There were a few other awful calls in the final minutes, going against both teams. Just a rough day for the zebras.

Grade: Y for Yikes!

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