SAN FRANCISCO — Who would the Memphis Grizzlies use to guard Jimmy Butler? That was a topic at the Golden State Warriors’ Tuesday morning shootaround. “I didn’t think they’d put Jaren (Jackson Jr.) on him because they’d be worrying about Jaren getting in foul trouble,” Draymond Green said.
“But I knew they wanted to put size on him.” Advertisement That eliminated their three guards. “You can’t put Ja (Morant) on him,” Green said.
“You can’t put (Desmond) Bane on him. You can’t put Scotty (Pippen Jr.) on him.
” So Steve Kerr and the Warriors correctly predicted that the Grizzlies would plant their starting center, the 7-foot-4 Zach Edey, on Butler, instructing Edey to sag way off of Butler on the perimeter. “He just told me: ‘I don’t care who guards me. Just give me space.
Give me the ball. I’ll make something happen,’” Kerr said. “And that’s the beauty of Jimmy.
” Butler’s version of making something happen: 38 points, 12 of 20 shooting, 12 made free throws, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals — his most productive night as a Warrior at the exact time he was needed most. Butler combined with Steph Curry (37 points) to co-author a 121-116 win that delivered them into the playoffs. The reward: four days off and a first-round series with the No.
2 seed Houston Rockets. “I think any team has a chance with me on it,” Butler said. “But I know every team has a chance with Steph on it.
I get to play Robin. That’s my.
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