Best fits and ceiling raising: Warriors host Mavs

Life moves fast in the NBA

Feb 23, 2025

There are many teams that the Golden State Warriors have to pass in the standings in order to realize their post season dreams, but none with quite the connection as the Dallas Mavericks and Klay Thompson have. Today is also auspicious for another reason: the honoring of a legend.

GAME DETAILS

WHO: Golden State Warriors (29-27) vs Dallas Mavericks (31-26)

WHEN: Sunday, February 23rd, 2025; 12:30 PM PST (it’s a matinee!)

WATCH: ABC

Iguodala, Butler, and the ceiling raising value of a good glue guy

The Warriors have the best Net Rating since dading Jimmy Butler. While it’s a bit early to be drawing conclusions, it’s indicative of how badly this team needed a shot in the arm. Iguodala’s jersey retirement, the franchise reset, and Klay’s timely visit are all lining up for a post-season run that feels just viable enough.

This won’t be easy.

The Mavs are on a run. Somehow managing to win five of their last six teams despite losing Luka Doncic in a trade for an already-injured Anthony Davis. led by a man who has hurt the Warriors frequently, Kyrie Irving and his team-leading 28 point, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game stat line this is a dangerous Mavs team that is well aware of the standings and the potential impact of today’s battle.

It will be an interesting game today, with both teams coming out the other end of a trade-fueled chrysalis looking more dangerous than they did just a few weeks ago. Golden State is 4-1 since the trade and are looking up at the Mavericks (currently one spot higher, in the 8th seed) and trying to see past them.

Butler’s addition has me thinking about the draft principle of “best player available,” and how Butler fits that definition when the Warriors were looking at trade options. But he’s also assuaged a bunch of big picture concerns. His playmaking and defense fit so well within the existing framework that it has also served as a catalyst to lower the difficulty in so many other ways. Draymond Green’s defensive synergy and the relief that Butler provides when it is time to bail out the offense have been a huge part of the success.

But beyond that, there’s a moxxy that Butler brings. This is a team on the rise. Previously, when Curry talked about maintaining belief you could tell from the strain in his voice that it was becoming a faith-challenging stretch. Now? It’s far from mid. This team is downright viable. Plus, they didn’t have to give up Kuminga.

Kuminga is back at practice and should be on the court again soon. No longer forced to strain against the roster limitations and too many gaps to fix, Kerr said that the team will thankfully have the luxury to bring Kuminga back into the rotation slowly.