Houston @ Golden State picks

The Golden State Warriors ended up in the Play-In with Jimmy Butler, but the team was struggling to stay afloat at .500 before he arrived. I don’t expect him to play in Game 3, and that’s going to be disastrous for the Warriors on both ends of the court. The offensive and defensive numbers back up Butler’s tremendous impact, but has that led to wins? In 52 games without Butler, the team posted a 25-27 record compared to a 23-7 record with him on the court. The Houston Rockets sport one of the best defenses in the Association, and the team’s length and size will continue to give Golden State problems. Without a primary catalyst in Butler, the Warriors will struggle to put up points, and they’ll have a tough time slowing down Houston’s impressive offense.