On Sunday, the Golden State Warriors will face the Houston Rockets in a win-or-go-home elimination contest.
Many were confident the Dubs would return to the Bay on Friday and make up for their abysmal Game 5 performance against the higher-seeded Western Conference squad.
Unfortunately, Golden State couldn’t complete a momentum-shifting run late in the contest to turn the tide in their favor, forcing them to travel to Houston for Game 7 after suffering a 115-107 loss.
The Warriors must receive standout performances from their perimeter-oriented studs, Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry, to avoid blowing another 3-1 lead in the playoffs.
Butler, who was traded from the Miami Heat to the Warriors on Feb. 5, made a compelling announcement ahead of the pivotal road contest.
"I probably have to jump up there and get some more rebounds," Butler told reporters after the Dubs' deflating defeat. "I’ve been being lazy."
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"I’m definitely going to chase after the loose balls, dive, do all that good stuff come Game 7. I should have been doing it anyways. Lead by example. If I do it, everybody else has to do it.”
Butler was diagnosed with a pelvic contusion after a nasty fall in the second game of the exhilarating series.
The two-way superstar missed the Warriors’ following clash to rehab his injury but returned to Golden State’s lineup on Apr. 28.
Although the six-time All-Star may not be 100% healthy, he’s been solid thus far in the postseason.
Butler averages 18.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game in five playoff contests.
Considering the Rockets have outrebounded the Dubs in two of their last three outings and played with more energy on both ends, Butler’s announcement should help calm Warriors fans heading into the biggest game of the franchise’s season.
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