Dub Hub: Jimmy Butler praises Steph Curry after Warriors clinch playoff spot, ‘That’s my Batman’

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Wednesday, April 16th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Jimmy Butler praises Steph Curry after the Warriors clinch a playoff spot with a 121-116 win over the Grizzlies.
• Full schedule of the Warriors’ First Round Playoff series against the Rockets.
• Trae Young ejected in Hawks Play-In loss to the Magic.

The Golden State Warriors are heading back to the NBA Playoffs after Tuesday night’s 121-116 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament. Stephen Curry and Jimmy Buttler both delivered massive performances in the high-stakes win with Curry dropping 37 points, including a barrage of fourth-quarter threes, while Butler added a game-high 38 points of his own.

After the game, Butler, who has embraced his role alongside Curry since arriving in Golden State, gave high praise to his superstar teammate and the confidence he instills in the team.

This is Butler’s first playoff appearance in a Warriors jersey after joining Golden State in a blockbuster midseason trade. While some wondered if “Playoff Jimmy” was still a thing, Tuesday’s win put any doubts to rest.

Now, with Curry playing the hero and Butler acting as his perfect co-star, the Warriors suddenly feel dangerous again as a battle-tested squad with a championship pedigree and two proven closers.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, April 16th:

Warriors News:

Jimmy Butler’s playoff mode arrives early and just in time for advancing Warriors | The Athletic

“I definitely have been wanting him to do it more, but I wasn’t worried at all or going to press for it,” Green said. “Because I’m in Year 13. Jimmy is in Year 14. He has a way about him. You learn not to mess with guys’ process. We all have our process. I have my process. He goes about things a certain way. … Only Buddy (Hield) said something (to him). But it’s Buddy. Buddy don’t know no better. All of us knew he’ll be more aggressive when it’s time to be aggressive.”

Said Butler: “They may need me to score a little bit more right now. But that may change when we play Sunday. If I can get 17 assists and we win, that’s great. If I can get 10 steals or two steals and we win, that’s great. But I think me scoring a little bit more has definitely helped us a little bit.”

Warriors give Steve Kerr the game ball for his first Play-In Tournament win

Full Warriors vs. Rockets schedule released for first-round NBA playoff series | NBC Sports Bay Area

Shortly after Golden State held off the scrappy Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 on Tuesday night at Chase Center, the NBA released the full schedule for the Warriors-Rockets series:

Game 1: Sunday, April 20 — Golden State at Houston — 6:30 p.m. PT — NBC Sports Bay Area

Game 2: Wednesday, April 23 — Golden State at Houston — 6:30 p.m. PT — NBC Sports Bay Area

Game 3: Saturday, April 26 — Houston at Golden State — 5:30 p.m. PT — ABC

Game 4: Monday, April 28 — Houston at Golden State — 7:00 p.m. PT — NBC Sports Bay Area

Game 5*: Wednesday, April 30 — Golden State at Houston — Time TBD — TV TBD

Game 6*: Friday, May 2 — Houston at Golden State — Time TBD — TV TBD

Game 7*: Sunday, May 4 — Golden State at Houston — Time TBD — TV TBD

‘Playoff guy’ GP2 ready to answer Warriors’ postseason call | NBC Sports Bay Area

Butler, who was a one-man wrecking crew for most of the game against Memphis, took it a step further and said Payton will definitely be a key factor in the upcoming playoffs.

“He’s going to be a reason that we win a couple games in the playoffs,” Butler said. “But what I love most about GP is he makes sure everybody’s calm. He lets everybody know, ‘We’re going to be just fine. We just have to get a stop, get a bucket. We got to execute.’

“He’ll take and make some big shots (and) for sure he’ll get a big-time dunk to get the crowd into the game and then guard whoever you ask him to guard.”

Draymond Green tells story about Trayce Jackson-Davis giving up his seat on the bench to rookie Quinten Post

NBA News:

Hawks’ Trae Young ejected vs. Magic for ‘making a mockery of the game,’ ref says | The Athletic

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young’s night was cut short after being ejected from Atlanta’s 120-95 loss in the first game of the Play-In round versus the Orlando Magic on Tuesday after receiving two technical fouls.

During the pool report interview, referee James Williams said he was “making a mockery of the game.”

Mavs GM Nico Harrison has no regrets about Luka Doncic trade | ESPN

“Well, the beauty of Dallas is it is a passionate fan base,” Harrison said. “For us to reach our goals, we need that fan base. And to be honest with you, every trade I’ve made since I’ve been here has not been regarded as a good trade, and so sometimes it takes time. When I traded for Kyrie, it was met with a lot of skepticism and it was graded as a terrible trade and you didn’t see it right away, but eventually everyone agreed that that was a great trade. When I traded for [Gafford] and [Washington] again, it was like, ‘Oh, he gave up way too much. These guys aren’t going to help us.’ Now that trade, you saw the evidence a lot sooner. So I think a lot of times trades take a little bit of time.

“But our philosophy, like I said, going forward is defense wins championships and we’re built on defense. And this trade cements us for that.”

Damian Lillard to miss the start of the NBA Playoffs

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Valkyries go international with their first draft pick

After an expansion draft where they devoted seven of their 11 picks to international players, six from Europe, the Golden State Valkyries looked to Europe again with the No. 5 pick in the WNBA draft. They picked 19-year-old Lithuanian wing Justė Jocytė, a 6-foot-2 wing who was the youngest woman to play in the modern EuroLeague.

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