Preview: Warriors visit Dallas as Klay tries to save Mavs’ season

Hey Klay, meet Jimmy!

Let’s talk about timing and irony, Dub Nation. When Klay Thompson walked out of Chase Center for the last time as a Warrior, he probably didn’t envision his reunion coming quite like this: watching Steph Curry unleash perhaps his most efficient offensive stretch of the season… with Jimmy Butler riding shotgun.

The Warriors (2-0 since acquiring Butler) roll into Dallas with the kind of momentum that feels less like a coincidence and more like a statement. Curry’s been on an absolute heater, extending his 30+ point streak to four games while suddenly getting to the free throw line at double his usual rate.

Golden State Warriors at Dallas Mavericks

When: February 12th, 2024 | 6:30 PM PT

TV: ESPN

Radio: 95.7 The Game

Enter Jimmy Butler, who’s turned out to be the perfect complement to Curry’s gravity-warping offense. Their first game together? A casual 59-point combined eruption that turned a 24-point deficit into a 21-point victory over Chicago. Butler’s debut featured a Warriors record for free throws made, while their encore saw him casually drop 20 points on 12-of-15 from the charity stripe. As Steve Kerr noted, it’s almost like having someone who can actually attack the rim and draw fouls might benefit a team’s offense. Who knew?

The numbers are painting a picture that must feel like a watercolor left out in the rain for Mavs fans. Since Butler’s arrival, the Warriors have gone from averaging 112.2 points to dropping 128.5 per night. Meanwhile, Dallas is speedrunning the “Complete Anthony Davis Experience” faster than a TikTok compilation; going from “unstoppable force” to “out indefinitely” in light years speed.

This leaves Klay in the awkward position of watching his replacement in GSW thrive while being asked to shoulder an offense that just lost both Luka Dončić and AD in the span of a week. It’s like being asked to recreate the Splash Brothers using only half the recipe and having Kyrie Irving as your sous chef. It will be extremely fascinating to observe how those two take over the reins for the Mavs on the back half of this season.

But here’s where it gets spicy: Butler’s not just scoring, he’s doing his best Klay impression on defense too. His last game? Nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals against Milwaukee. It’s the kind of two-way performance that used to be Thompson’s calling card.

Curry’s been diplomatic about the whole situation, but his game is speaking volumes. “There’s a definite correlation,” he admitted about his recent surge alongside Butler, noting how each possession feels less challenging. Translation: Having someone who can punish defenses for overplaying him is making life significantly easier.

For Thompson, this isn’t just another game on the schedule. My girlfriend said it’s like watching your ex thrive in a new relationship while you’re still trying to figure out who you are.

The difference is, most of us don’t have to process those feelings while Uncle Drew is throwing no-look passes at our heads and half your potential offensive support is wearing designer suits on the bench.

But here’s where it gets interesting: While Thompson’s trying to channel his inner 2016 Game 6 every night (out of necessity rather than choice), his former running mate Curry has found a new dance partner who’s mastering a completely different rhythm. The Warriors’ offensive rating with the Curry-Butler pairing has jumped to levels reminiscent of the peak Warriors years, just with more free throws and fewer three-point celebrations.

“I mean, you can acknowledge it and understand the frustration,” Thompson said about the Mavs’ fans bringing so many “FIRE NICO” signs to games it’s like a flashback to the heyday of a rowdy WWF Raw crowd. “When you feel like you grew up with someone, it hurts to lose them, especially to a team in your conference.” The irony of Thompson comforting irate fans about losing their star while watching his own brand new replacement thrive in GSW probably isn’t lost on anyone in the building.

But this is where Thompson’s legendary mental toughness comes into play. This is the same guy who knocked down free throws on a torn ACL and came back from 941 days of injury rehab to drop 30-pieces like he never left. Now he’s embracing a role that’s asking him to be both the sniper and the general. I’m absolutely positive he’s going to accept his expanded role gleefully. This is a sweet opportunity to prove he can still make major contributions to winning basketball games at the highest levels.

For the Warriors, this game is about maintaining their perfect Butler-era record and building on that devastating offensive efficiency. For the Mavericks, it’s about proving Thompson’s optimism isn’t misplaced, even as their fans are bringing protest signs to what was supposed to be a championship contender’s season.

Game tips off at 6:30 PM PT. Bring popcorn. And maybe some tissues, just in case Klay needs them when he sees Steph and Jimmy giggling through pregame warmups.