Trade Winds in Their Sails

 In the two games played so far after the All Star break, the Golden State Warriors defeated two rivals for playoff spots, the Sacramento Kings and the Dallas Mavericks, both by double digits.  They've won three in a row for the first time in awhile, and are 5-1 since Jimmy Butler joined the team.  It's still early but a few things stand out.

First, the swagger is back.  Draymond Green used his All Star commentator status to predict the Warriors will win the NBA championship this year.

Then there are the effects that Butler's presence is having on other players. Over and over this year various other players were touted as the one who would finally unlock Brandin Podziemski's game.  He was especially ragged during the long stretch of malaise that's been most of this season so far.  Nobody quite did it--but in the Dallas game especially, Jimmy Butler looks like he's doing it.  Podz is playing with confidence and decisiveness.  He's still throwing bad passes now and then but he isn't thrown by them.  When he's cooking, the team jells. He clearly clicks with Butler. 

Butler is establishing court relationships with other players, too (he keeps finding the latest roster hire, Quinten Post, for corner 3s and dunks.) But his most important service is liberating Steph.

It's pretty clear that Butler's complete game is freeing Steph to be Steph again.  He's playing with joy again--and doing amazing things.  His blind backwards over the head half court swish in All Star practice was joined by an underhand flip from deep that also swished, drawing oohs and ahhs from the crowd in Sacramento (apparently with a lot of Dub fans there.)  Neither counted--but he's made many sweet shots that did: smooth threes, dribble penetrations and floaters, and so on.  The home crowd at the Dallas game especially saw a show, as he put up 30 in the three quarters he played.

Now the Warriors will be tested in the next few games with opponents they are supposed to dominate.  Can they bring that same activity and intensity and concentration?  These games were never gimmies for them just weeks ago.

Oh, and Jonathan Kuminga is expected to be on the court again during this stretch.  

The LA Lakers big trade also show signs of working out for them.  They look to be rising even as Phoenix is falling.  Dallas is weaker, and with Wemby out for the Spurs, they may not be a factor.  But eyes will likely be on the Lakers and the Warriors for the rest of the season. Who will move up? Can they challenge OKC or Denver?

But before all this, let's mention the All-Star weekend, more or less hosted by Steph Curry and the Warriors, culminating in Steph being named MVP of the game.  The game, the contests (Buddy Hield coming in second in the 3 point) and the time off seem to have revived the Warrior players.  So even if the game format (partly designed by Curry apparently) didn't improve things a whole lot, the weekend ends up being a win for the Warriors.