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Ohm Youngmisuk
ATLANTA — Jimmy Butler stated his extremely anticipated return to Miami to face his former Heat staff can be simply “one other recreation” to him Tuesday.
After the Golden State Warriors dropped a disappointing 124-115 loss to the Atlanta Hawks with out an injured Stephen Curry (pelvic contusion) on Saturday night time, Butler stated his return to Miami can be no completely different than his first recreation towards former groups comparable to Chicago, Philadelphia and Minnesota.
Butler was traded from Miami to Golden State earlier than the commerce deadline final month after a tumultuous breakup with the Warmth.
“Yeah, I used to be traded from there, yada, yada, yada,” Butler stated after ending with 25 factors, 8 assists and 4 rebounds within the loss to Atlanta. “Yeah, it did not finish the way in which that individuals needed to, yada yada yada.
“However that is up to now behind me now. I do not even give it some thought. I do not take note of nothing aside from the trajectory of this squad.”
Regardless of the setback in Atlanta, the Warriors (41-30) are 16-4 since Butler’s debut Feb. 8.
The Warmth, in the meantime, are on a 10-game slide for the primary time since 2008. Miami is simply 4-17 because the Butler commerce grew to become official on Feb. 7. Throughout that span, Miami has been outscored by 125 factors within the fourth quarter, the worst within the NBA since Feb. 6, in response to analysis by ESPN Analysis.
This additionally would be the first time Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson, two Warriors who have been despatched to Miami within the five-team commerce involving Butler, will face their former staff.
“We received Jimmy over right here, I do know it is a massive recreation for him,” Warriors energy ahead Draymond Green stated. “They received Wiggs over there. I do know it is an enormous recreation for him. We need to win for Jimmy, they’ll need to win for Wiggs. We received to come back out able to play.”
Butler, who helped the Warmth attain two NBA Finals throughout his five-and-a-half seasons, praised the Miami followers for his or her assist however stated he’s not curious concerning the response he’ll obtain.
“Probably not, do not make no distinction,” Butler stated. “I am a member of the Golden State Warriors. I really like that fan base. They confirmed me plenty of love whereas I used to be there. However I am there to win now. I am on the opposing staff.”
When requested how he would characterize his time in Miami, Butler stated it fell in need of the last word objective of profitable a title.
“We have been alright,” Butler stated. “We did not win nothing like we have been alleged to. So I do not know. We made some cool runs. We had some enjoyable. I believe that is all we did.”
Curry, in the meantime, is predicted to be reevaluated Monday. And whereas coach Steve Kerr stated he expects Curry to rejoin the staff sooner or later on this six-game highway swing, Butler is extra targeted on doubtless having to discover a strategy to win in Miami with out him.
“One other recreation for me, one other recreation that we’re anticipated to win for certain,” Butler stated after expressing disappointment of dropping to the Hawks. “So we received to determine it out in a short time [without Curry].”
