The Golden State Warriors took care of business against the Memphis Grizzlies, clinching their spot in the NBA playoffs with a 121-116 win at Chase Center on Tuesday night. Now, with their focus shifting to the upcoming series against the Houston Rockets, Draymond Green sent a clear message about Jimmy Butler.
“Yeah, he different. That guy, he’s different,” Green said, commenting on the renewed energy Butler brings as the postseason approaches. “You can just see a whole different intensity level and focus. And you know, I’m a basketball fan, so I’ve watched it on TV for years. But to see it up close and personal, like, it’s a real thing.”
That extra motivation Butler taps into during the postseason has earned him the nickname “Playoff Jimmy”—a moniker Draymond fully supports. “Sometimes you get in the NBA and these guys come in, they get these nicknames and you’re like, ‘Man, stop it.’ Like, there’s some other nicknames out there, they not real,” said the four-time NBA champion with the Warriors. “That one? That one’s real. And I’m happy he on our side.”
Butler stepped up when the Warriors needed him most
While Jimmy Butler’s performance since joining Golden State has already been impressive, his best version has emerged when the team has needed him most. In the play-in matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, the small forward was instrumental in the win, leading the team with 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists in 40 minutes on the court.
Jimmy Butler III #10, Draymond Green #23 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors react in the second half against the Orlando Magic on February 27, 2025.
“We’ve just seen it the last few nights, where he’s turned it up completely on both sides of the ball,” said Draymond Green about Jimmy. “I think what’s great is that everyone else is adjusting to it, because he’s way more aggressive to score.”
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But Green went even further, explaining that Butler’s transformation extends beyond his on-court play—it’s also evident in his attitude and his dynamic within the team. “He hadn’t yelled at anybody since he’d been here—he’s yelling at guys now,” said Dray. “Like, it’s a totally different person. But I think the way guys are adjusting to it is beautiful. So we got to make sure we keep doing that. But it’s a completely different person.”
Tough challenge ahead for the Warriors
The win over the Grizzlies punched the Warriors’ ticket to the postseason. But now begins a much tougher path: the NBA playoff picture starts with a first-round showdown against the Houston Rockets. They finished second in the Western Conference with a 52-30 record, but during the regular season, they didn’t have an edge over Golden State in head-to-head matchups.
In the four games the Rockets and the Warriors played this season, the series was evenly split. Each team won twice—once at home and once on the road. That sets the stage for what could be a tightly contested playoff battle, where Golden State’s postseason experience could become a deciding factor.
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