21 hours Ago By Dan Coombs, NBA Analysis Network
The Golden State Warriors are the NBA’s in-form team and they have been laying down a marker recently. Since the All-Star break the Golden State Warriors have been stacking up wins. Their latest three over the Memphis Grizzlies, LA Lakers and Denver Nuggets were especially significant .
Gaining ground on each of their competitors, the Warriors have proven themselves as genuine contenders, a stunning turnaround from their mid-season form. The Jimmy Butler trade changed the Warriors season, and team legend Chris Mullin believes his pairing with Stephen Curry can equalize the Lakers’ LeBron James and Luka Doncic duo . But it is another player whose partnership with Jimmy Butler has caught the eye of head coach Steve Kerr .
Steve Kerr praises Brandin Podziemski Brandin Podziemski had 28 points in the Warriors’ win over the LA Lakers, earning praise for his ‘outstanding’ performance . He had 26 points in the subsequent win over the Denver Nuggets, and the sophomore player is having a great impact right now. Steve Kerr is thrilled with how he is playing, speaking glowingly in his post-game press conference about his boost since the Butler trade.
He said: “Brandin is probably the biggest beneficiary of the Jimmy trade. They have a really good connection together. Jimmy makes everybody better, but he’s especially making Brandin better.
“Brandin is just playing with the confidence that comes with second year starting 30 plus minutes every night. “Shots not always going to be there, but it’s going to be consistent over time, the way, the way he’s playing, the way he feels, he’s a big time player.” Elaborating more on how Butler has benefitted Podziemski, Kerr referred to the calmness and efficiency Butler has brought to the team.
He said: “Jimmy makes the right play every single time, he draws attention, never turns it over. They have a great connection, two man game, and they find each other, and the game flows. “The game really flows with those two out there.
“It’s a puzzle. It’s a five man puzzle, and we found a really good starting group.” Brandin Podziemski is benefitting Steve Kerr was not happy with Brandin Podziemski’s decision-making and performances during the early part of the NBA season.
Speaking in late February, Kerr said he believed Podziemski could be a winner from the Butler trade , encouraged by how they complement one another. Weeks on, now in early April, Kerr’s comments back up what he hoped for, Podziemski has clearly benefitted from the former Heat star being traded to the Warriors. Against the Lakers he had eight three pointers helping him go above 25 points, while also adding five rebounds and five assists – the only other Warriors players to do this in a game are Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, elite company .
This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission..
