Dub Hub: Jimmy Butler downplays Heat matchup as just ‘another game’

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Tuesday, March 25th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Jimmy Butler downplays Tuesday’s matchup against the Heat, calls it just “another game.”
• Steph Curry “motivated” to be back for Jimmy Butler’s return game in Miami.
• Celtics’ Jayson Tatum sprains ankle in Monday’s 113-95 win vs. Kings.

As the Golden State Warriors continue to fight for playoff positioning, Tuesday’s matchup against the Miami Heat carries extra intrigue as Jimmy Butler makes his highly-anticipated return to South Beach. The former Heat star will play in Miami for the first time since being traded to Golden State in February, though he insists the matchup is just “another game.”

Butler spent five-and-a-half seasons with the Heat, leading them to two NBA Finals appearances. However, a refusal to extend his contract over the offseason created tension between him and Miami’s front office. After requesting a trade, Butler’s relationship with the organization deteriorated further, leading to three separate team suspensions before he was ultimately dealt to the Warriors at the deadline.

Now with Golden State, Butler says he’s in a better place and that there are no hard feelings towards his former team.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, March 25th:

Warriors News:

The Jimmy Butler era in Miami was special despite rocky ending | NBA

But first, a reconnection, if it can be called that, awaits Tuesday.

Spoelstra said: “Obviously there will be a lot of different feelings about it. I probably won’t express all of them … we had a great five-year run. We didn’t win the title but only one team does. We had some great moments here. That’s what you always remember. (But) it doesn’t matter what everybody feels right now.”

Butler: “It’s a game we’re expected to win.”

Steph Curry motivated to be back for Jimmy Butler’s return in Miami

At home with the Warriors, Jimmy Butler is winning and unbothered: ‘I’ll take being the bad guy’ | The Athletic

Butler makes it clear: This wasn’t a request; it was a courtesy alert. His stature and success have generated an amount of power he has — and will — unapologetically leverage. He’d never had a conversation with Kerr prior to the trade-deadline blockbuster that sent him to Golden State. But in their first one-on-one, the Warriors’ coach laid out his two non-negotiables: Show up on time and compete to win as part of the group. That’s it.

“We welcome personal quirkiness and individualism, and I think guys always feel a sense of freedom here,” Kerr said. “I told Jimmy that from Day 1. I said, ‘You be you.’”

Analyzing Butler’s impact on Warriors across first 20 games | NBC Sports Bay Area

Since coming to Golden State, Butler has played 19 games, with only two negative plus/minus totals. He’s averaging 17.3 points, 6.5 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals. He has attempted 151 free throws and made 84.8 percent of them. His frequent trips to the line, and conversions once there, have filtered through the roster. The Warriors were last in the league free-throw percentage before Butler and second since he arrived.

Turnovers are down, and efficiency is up. The offense that posted a 111.8 rating (18th in the NBA) before Butler is at 118.2 (ninth) with him. Curry’s efficiency, which was trending downward, has soared.

Steve Kerr explains the need for Jonathan Kuminga’s ‘adjustment’: “We are a different team”

NBA News:

Celtics’ Jayson Tatum says sprained left ankle ‘just sore’ | ESPN

Tatum’s left foot landed on Sabonis’ foot, and Tatum immediately dropped to the floor.

“He seems to be doing OK,” Mazzulla said. “I didn’t see the play, but they made the right call. Fortunate that he was able to shoot the free throws. [He’s] taking care of it right now.”

Tatum, who finished with 25 points and was limping gingerly through the Celtics’ locker room after the game, told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne his ankle is “just sore” but that the team is “going to be cautious.”

Mavs’ Anthony Davis scores 12 points in return from 6-week layoff | NBA

“I stressed to (Mavericks management) that once I’m 100%, whatever that time was and we had games left, I’m going to play,” Davis said. “We all huddled up and got on the same page and like I (said), went through the rehab process and was able to play tonight.

“(There) was never a moment in my mind — unless we ran out of games (or) I wasn’t 100% — I wasn’t going to play.”

USC Women’s College Basketball star JuJu Watkins suffers torn right ACL during March Madness Tournament

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Western Conference standings update, 3/24

No. 5 — Memphis Grizzlies (43-28)

The Grizzlies lost their only game of the weekend, getting crushed by the Clippers on Friday. That opened the door for the Dubs to pull closer, but Golden State couldn’t capitalize. As a result, Memphis stays two games ahead of the Warriors.

But it’s a close race. The Grizzlies are struggling, having lost three games in a row, and they have an absolutely brutal schedule upcoming. Critically, they face the Warriors next week, which will be a massive game, and could determine the seeding for both teams, as the Dubs would earn the tiebreaker with a win.

Next games up: Tuesday at the Jazz, Thursday at the Thunder

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