Steve Kerr wasn’t happy with how unfocused the Warriors were in certain aspects of the game, and predicted the return of Jimmy Butler would solve the problem.
The Golden State Warriors’ preseason game ended with a 106-103 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Even if the Warriors didn’t read too much into the results, they ended the five games with a win, with three wins and two losses.
The Warriors’ breakout star in the preseason was L.J. Cryer, who made headlines in his brief appearance with the team, especially while big stars like Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler were resting.
However, in the final preseason game, coach Steve Kerr noticed several performance issues surfacing, one in particular that could only be resolved by the impending return of Jimmy Butler.
Steve Kerr spoke to reporters after the Warriors lost to the Los Angeles Clippers. In particular, Kerr pointed to the team’s lack of turnovers.
Coach Kerr criticized the Warriors for being careless with the ball, but added that the return of Jimmy Butler will bring stability to the team, noting the progress he has made against the ball since he joined the team.
“Part of it is just careless play and lack of fundamentals, passing dribbles with one hand when both hands are available.
“If you have the ball in both hands and the opponent cuts you while passing, you will pull the ball back with one hand and throw it out of bounds.We need to improve on the fundamentals.
“But I think Jimmy (Butler) solves a lot of that. Last year, you remember, we were 25-26 without him. We turned it over a lot. We turned it over a lot.”
“But once we got him, the game made more sense. We were able to control the game a lot more. We cut down on turnovers a lot and started winning. That’s not a coincidence.”
Speaking with Steve Kerr ahead of the final preseason game, NBA insider Anthony Slater reported that both Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green will play in the Warriors’ season opener.
Both Butler and Green did not play in the final preseason game to get some rest, but they did practice and shoot before preseason games began.
Jimmy Butler could be key for the Warriors next season as he will play a big role in relieving Stephen Curry on offense.
On top of that, he’s probably the Warriors’ best perimeter defender and will likely help Draymond Green adjust his defensive sets on a regular basis. Butler’s importance cannot be underestimated.