We’re a couple hours away from game 7 between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets and I can’t stop coming back to one thing—Jimmy Butler. I know, it sounds a little strange to put that much weight on one player in a series full of big names and momentum swings, but Butler’s injury in game 2 completely changed the trajectory of this matchup. After getting hurt in game 2 and missing the next two games, his return in game 5 barely helped, then in game 6 his presence was known again but things still weren’t clicking like they did in the first game. And now, with everything on the line in game 7, the way he plays—and the leadership he brings—might be the deciding factor in whether or not Golden State moves on. He’s not just a piece of the puzzle; he’s the part holding it all together.
It was immediately felt what his absence meant when he did not return in game 2. Without him suited up for the Warriors, it felt like the Rockets had that extra half-step advantage. They were playing fast and loose. Jalen Green was getting a few more looks, Fred VanVleet was playing freely, and the spacing just felt like it belonged to Houston. The Warriors looked a little unsure of themselves. They weren’t terrible, but they were chasing Houston instead of dictating the game. Without Butler, there was a missing sense of control in the flow of things. They would still win both games 3 and 4. But as soon as he returned in game 5, it was like the Rockets were suddenly being asked questions they didn’t want to answer. That game flipped on a dime.
What’s crazy is that the Warriors didn’t need Butler to go for 40 or dominate the stat sheet. He just had to be there. His decision-making, his ability to force switches, his calm in high-pressure moments—those things ripple. game 5 saw the Rockets take advantage of defensive lapses from Golden State that hadn’t been there earlier in the series. And it wasn’t that the Warriors got worse. It was that Butler’s injury was forcing the Warriors into mistakes because someone always had to know where Jimmy was. The Rockets thrived off that.
Curry looked different in these last two games. There was less frustration. But he was forcing bad shots. He trusted the offense again. And I believe that had everything to do with Jimmy Butler being out there. Not because Butler made Curry better directly, but because the Rockets were less comfortable and the Warriors knew it. Draymond Green could throw those insane cross-court passes again without fear of an immediate trap. You could feel the whole team exhale.
Then game 6 happened, and that was the big test. Could Butler do it again? Could he change the game just by being Jimmy? The answer was yes, and this time he added some offense to it too. He wasn’t just a floor general or a defensive anchor—he scored, he rebounded, he made key free throws, and once again, the Warriors fed off it. It’s not just about one team benefiting directly from another player. It’s about the temperature of the game. Butler raises the stakes. He forces focus. And the Warriors—especially Curry and Green—feed off games where the stakes are sky-high. Unfortunately, they still lost the game.
Now, here comes game 7. Houston is back home, and they’ve got the crowd, they’ve got youth, and they’ve got players who can explode. But all of that feels fragile when Butler and Curry are both on the court. They don’t panic. And more importantly, they don’t let their teammates panic either. That’s what separates them from most players in this league. And for the Warriors, that kind of poise is priceless.
There’s something about the way Butler’s presence shrinks the game to the half court, to grind-it-out moments, that plays directly into Golden State’s hands. They don’t want to chase Houston in transition. They want to dictate pace, pick spots, and run smart sets. Butler slows everything down without losing control.
I also think the emotional weight of Jimmy being back plays into it. The injury he suffered in game 2 looked like it would knock him out for the rest of the playoffs. But he didn’t just come back—he’s impacted every single second since he stepped on the floor. That kind of grit doesn’t go unnoticed. And if you’re Curry or Green, and you see that kind of effort, it lifts you. It tells you there’s still something to fight for. It reminds you of the urgency.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Warriors’ bench started playing better as soon as Butler returned. Moses Moody got more confident. Gary Payton II started hitting key shots. Even Andrew Wiggins, who’s been up and down this year, looked more engaged. It’s like the whole team was reminded that this isn’t over yet, and Butler being back was the proof.
Tonight is going to come down to a few plays. It always does in a game 7. Maybe it’s a last-minute turnover, or a big three, or a controversial whistle. But in between all that, the moments that matter most are the ones where the game feels like it’s slipping away, and someone steps in to calm it down. That’s where Butler’s going to matter. Whether he’s hitting shots or not, whether he’s on the court for 30 minutes or 45, he will keep the game from getting away from the Warriors. That’s his impact.
I think it’s also important to say this isn’t about hero worship. Butler’s not perfect. He takes bad shots. He gambles on defense. And there are nights when the engine sputters a bit. But the Warriors don’t need perfection tonight. They need someone who can hold Houston accountable. Someone who keeps everyone engaged on both ends. That’s Jimmy. That’s why game 5 and 6 mattered so much. That’s why his presence tonight is going to be just as massive—even if it doesn’t show up in the box score.
The Warriors aren’t going to fold. They’ve taken too many punches this season, faced too many questions, and battled through too much noise to just back down now. Curry and Green live for these moments. They’ve got young guys like Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga who are learning how to thrive under playoff pressure. And now, they’ve got Butler back in the mix. That should change everything. He brings that edge, that playoff toughness that reminds everyone on that bench exactly who they are and what they’ve built over the years.
Here’s the thing, folks: Buttler’s been through Game 7s. He’s felt the weight of a season on one night, and he’s never shied away from it. That’s what separates him. And that’s what the Warriors are leaning on tonight. Even if he only puts up 14 points and grabs 6 rebounds, it’s the way he carries himself that makes the difference. His voice, his pace, his presence—those are the things that settle a team down when emotions run high. He absorbs the pressure, and in doing so, he frees everyone else to play their game. That’s what Golden State needs most right now.
With that… We’ll see how the actual gameplay unfolds. Maybe Curry goes nuclear. Maybe the Rockets come out red-hot from three and try to blow the doors off early. That’s all possible. But the thing I keep coming back to is this: the Warriors were wobbly, the series looked like it was slipping away, and then Jimmy came back. And now we’re here. Game 7. Everything on the line. And he’s still here, anchoring this group in the middle of the storm.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!