Optimism reigns among the Golden State Warriors. They are hoping to have their superstar player Jimmy Butler back on the floor come Game 4 of this playoff series versus the Houston Rockets. His absence has been sorely missed since he went down with an injury late in the first quarter of Game 2. He did not make it past the eight-minute mark. His absence indeed was felt as the Warriors would go on to lose that game 109-94.
In Game 3, Stephen Curry delivered with a nearly flawless performance, scoring 36 points to go with nine assists and seven rebounds. Even without Butler, the Warriors were still able to pull off the upset, beating the Rockets 104-93. Curry said he was hopeful about Butler’s quick recovery, adding the team needs their star guard going into the later rounds of the playoffs.
He’s a huge influence on everything we do,” Curry explained. If he’s not, we’re still good enough to play at a high level and win a very physical tough playoff game. I think we all know that we’re playing to win 14 more of these. We need Jimmy to do that.
In the days since his injury, Butler has been focused on making a concerted effort with treatment and workouts on the court. Constitution Center and reports indicated that he took part in a limited walkthrough during the team shootaround Monday morning. That indicates he could be prepared to feature in the second match.
The Warriors’ coaching staff is closely monitoring Butler’s progress and remains hopeful that he will take the court in Game 4. His qualities of mind and leadership can make all the difference. The team hopes to ride the momentum of flushing the Rockets down the toilet last night.
As this playoff series goes on, everyone is still certainly watching Butler. His potential return looms large, as it would be a game changer for the Warriors deepening their run in the postseason.
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