The Golden State Warriors are one loss away from having their 2024-25 NBA season be over. The Minnesota Timberwolves have them on the ropes with a 3-1 series deficit. This matchup changed dramatically when Stephen Curry left Game 1 with a hamstring injury. At first things looked promising.

In nearly 1,000 possessions prior to the playoffs, Golden State had a plus-12.8 net rating when Butler was on the floor without Curry. In those same non-Curry minutes, Butler averaged 24.9 points and 7.6 assists per 75 possessions, with a 63.7 true shooting percentage.

The Golden State Warriors had one pathway, and one pathway alone, to staying in their second-round series vs. Minnesota long enough for Stephen Curry to get back with a realistic chance to make a difference: Jimmy Butler had to step out of this so-called Robin role that he has so enthusiastically embraced and actually put his Batman suit back on.