The Golden State Warriors were dealt a double whammy on a most disappointing April 2 during the NBA playoffs. This was not only because of their 109-94 loss to the Houston Rockets but also because they lost their most valuable player, Jimmy Butler, through a very bad injury at the beginning of the game.
Butler, a six-time NBA All-Star, had himself hurting very badly in the first quarter when he lay sprawled on the floor after a tough fall from a collision with Houston’s Amen Thompson. He struggled back in the will-to-high while in considerable pain and tried to tell his teammates that he was okay. A few moments later, he ordered a substitution and headed straight for the locker rooms.
To make matters worse, Guard Brandin Podziemski was feeling under the weather himself, missing some game time and being listed as questionable to return the full match; however, he did return to the match in the third quarter.
Thus, Steve Kerr had to rally after the injuries happened and use his bench to the Atmost.He made use of twelve different bodies in direct replacement of Butler; one such player was Jonathan Kuminga who didn’t even get called up during Game 1.
Seeing that Butler scored 25 points along with an impressive seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals in Game 1 and otherwise really led the charge for the Warriors in their 95-85 defeat of the Crickettown Rockets, he was no less than a beast. Given the way he is now performing, putting him as a part of that trade list when he was halfway through the season leaving Miami to the Warriors, he has made quite an impact on the team in just seven weeks.
