Dub Hub: Jimmy Butler explains why he complements Steph Curry perfectly in the Warriors’ offense

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Monday, February 10th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Jimmy Butler explains what makes him a great complement to Steph Curry following the Warriors’ 132-111 victory over the Bulls.
• Steve Kerr calls Jimmy Butler a ‘lion’ after his 25-point debut with the team on Saturday.
• Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined until after the All-Star Break due to a mild calf strain, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Jimmy Butler made an immediate impact in his Golden State Warriors debut, helping the team rally for a 132-111 comeback win over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. Butler poured in 25 points on 7-of-12 shooting while knocking down 11 of his team-high 13 free throw attempts. Meanwhile, Steph Curry led the team with 34 points which included a vintage 24-point third quarter.

After the game, Butler spoke about his fit with the Warriors, particularly playing alongside Curry:

With Curry dominating the perimeter and Butler in the post, their opposing gravities offer a new dynamic that this team hasn’t seen in a very long time. Even on a night like Saturday when Curry is hot from three, it’s nice knowing that Butler can provide a legitimate secondary scoring option, attacking the post and drawing contact to keep the offense rolling. As their chemistry builds, expect this duo to become even more dangerous heading into the second half of the season.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, February 10th:

Warriors News:

Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry, ‘opposite’ players, dominate in debut together | The Athletic

But it’s also the style of attack. The Warriors, as Kerr has pointed out several times during losing streaks this season, don’t generate enough layups or free throws. They’re the least productive team in the NBA in the restricted area and shoot the fourth fewest free throws.

Butler gets more than half his shots near the restricted area (178 of 275 this season), shoots a great percentage (63.5) there and averaged around eight free throws per game during his five-plus seasons in Miami.

“He’s like the exact opposite player of me, which is kind of funny,” Curry said. “I shot 16 3s. He shot one. He got to the free-throw line a lot, dominated the paint. I’m dominating the outside, the perimeter. Guys working around us. It has the potential to be fun.”

Jimmy Butler’s Warriors debut made it feel real: This is the dynasty’s last push | The Athletic

“He’s here for a reason, to help try to get us to the next level,” Curry said.

“You look at his body of work. It seems like when the stakes get higher, he rises to the occasion. He’s a dog. He’s a winner. And just the idea he has a lot to prove with a new situation. I know he’s excited to help us. We’re excited to help him. … I like a motivated, hungry team with Jimmy on there and the vets we have to try to put it together.”

The core pieces are set. Their contracts are all aligned, so the expiration date is set. And the player they got only knows one way, so the tone is set. This is it.

Steve Kerr reacts to Jimmy Butler’s first game with the Warriors: “He’s a lion”

Butler shows he’s everything Warriors weren’t in debut vs. Bulls | NBC Sports Bay Area

Kerr called Butler a “lion.” His presence is impossible to ignore. It hangs in the air and is felt by all. There aren’t hanging heads, only a sense of knowing the game can shift in favor of a team that has Butler, Curry and Green leading the charge.

“At no point was it ever like, ahh body language’s dropping or anything like that. And that’s kind of what you’ve seen this year,” Green said. “We get down and it’s kind of like snake-bitten mentality. It was total opposite, which is why we came back no problem.”

Jimmy Butler wore ‘Butler III’ on his jersey to honor his late father

NBA News:

Sources: Anthony Davis out multiple weeks with adductor strain | ESPN

Dallas Mavericks star power forward/center Anthony Davis is expected to sit out multiple weeks because of a left adductor strain, sources told ESPN on Sunday night.

His absence could stretch to a month, sources said, because of an injury that cut short his spectacular debut with his new franchise. Davis, the headliner of the Mavs’ return from the controversial trade of 25-year-old superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, exited Saturday’s win over the Houston Rockets with 1:37 left in the third quarter after recording 26 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 blocks in 31 minutes.

Lakers’ trade for Hornets center Mark Williams rescinded | NBA

The Los Angeles Lakers rescinded their trade to acquire Mark Williams from Charlotte because the center failed his physical, a person with knowledge of the circumstances told The Associated Press on Saturday night.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Lakers didn’t plan to make a public announcement of their reason for scrapping the deal.

Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo expected to miss time due to a mild calf strain

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

On Jimmy Butler providing a more balanced attack by keeping opponents off balance

What has also been made clear: Butler fits on this team. More importantly, he fits with Curry, a polar opposite that proves that both ends of the offensive spectrum attract each other and are very much capable of coexisting with one another.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.