Let’s dive into probability and poetry, Dub Nation. The Warriors (26-26) head to Milwaukee to take on a struggling Bucks squad (27-23), armed with their latest game-changing weapon. The stats are starting to tell an intriguing story.
When it comes to Jimmy Butler and the Milwaukee Bucks, their history feels like Omar strolling through the streets in The Wire—spreading fear the moment he appears. In the 2023 playoffs, Butler didn’t just defeat the Bucks; he took apart the top seed with a level of precision and cold-blooded execution reminiscent of a heist film, where the mastermind calmly lays out the plan while dressed in an impeccably tailored suit.
Golden State Warriors at Milwaukee Bucks
When: February 10th, 2024 | 5:00 PM PT
TV: NBC Sports
Radio: 95.7 The Game
Remember that series? Butler torched Milwaukee with a staggering 37.6 points per game—a number so absurd you almost have to double-check to make sure it’s not a typo. He didn’t just break down the Bucks’ defense; he turned it into his personal playground before sending them packing from the playoffs. That wasn’t just scoring—it was artistry, laced with a bit of psychological warfare.
But here’s the nightmare scenario for Milwaukee: that was Butler operating within Miami’s system. Now? He’s got the greatest shooter of all time bending defensive schemes like a basketball black hole. The Warriors aren’t just adding Butler’s proven ability to dismantle the Bucks—they’re bringing a completely retooled offense that just hung 132 points on Chicago.
Milwaukee has long struggled with drop coverage against elite guards, and now Butler gets to exploit that with Steph Curry’s gravitational pull. As Butler himself put it: “They’re not leaving him ever. I get to play 1-on-1 or in space.” That’s the equivalent of handing a master safecracker the building’s blueprints and telling the security team to go grab lunch.
In their first game together, the Butler-Curry duo exploded for 59 points, orchestrating a jaw-dropping 45-point swing that had the Bulls rethinking everything. Their on-court chemistry was instant, their impact undeniable.
Here’s a look at their combined shot chart, where they went 17-of-31 from the field:
What we witnessed in Chicago was a Warriors squad that finally had a counterpunch to complement Steph’s knockout blows. When defenses swarm Curry—who casually dropped 24 points in a single quarter against the Bulls—they’re now faced with Butler relentlessly attacking the rim. It’s like choosing between a tooth extraction and a root canal—either way, it’s going to hurt.
The timing couldn’t be better for Golden State to take on Milwaukee, a team currently fumbling through solutions like they’re trying to solve a Rubik’s cube in the dark. The Bucks have dropped six of their last ten and are now pinning their hopes on Kyle Kuzma, who’s struggling through a career-worst 28.6% from three and just 60% from the free-throw line.
Milwaukee will counter with their own superstar duo in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, but they’re still figuring out how to operate without Khris Middleton. Meanwhile, the Warriors just flipped a 24-point deficit into a 21-point victory—and their new lineup barely knows each other’s coffee orders yet.
Somewhere on Monday night, Pat Riley might be watching through clenched teeth, realizing that letting Butler go was a mistake roughly the size of Wisconsin itself.
The Jimmy Butler Revenge Tour rolls on. Milwaukee is just another stop—but something tells me this one’s been circled in red.
