Warriors' Jimmy Butler pinpoints key contributor to loss vs. Rockets

The Golden State Warriors fell to their 10th defeat of the season on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Steve Kerr's team lost to the Houston Rockets, 104-100, dropping them back to .500 on the season and ensuring they continue to struggle in terms of generating any momentum.

After the game, veteran forward Jimmy Butler spoke to the media and aired his frustrations, both with himself and his teammates. Butler's primary issue remains a lack of execution on defense. Butler called out the Warriors' lackluster defense just a few weeks ago, and it would appear that it's becoming a growing concern for the All-Star who arrived in the Bay Area at the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline.

“We don’t box out, we don’t go with the scouting report. We let anybody do whatever they want, open shots, get into the paint, free throws. It’s just sad,” Butler said. "...We just gotta care more. But that's not the only problem. That may be one of them, but we just gotta compete, especially at home."

Despite their defensive struggles, the Warriors are still 10th in the NBA for defensive rating. However, they're 25th in the league for defensive rebound percentage, securing just 67% of their opponents' missed shots. Golden State must improve on holding opponents to single-shot possessions, especially if they're looking to control the tempo and win the possession game.

Butler's comments show that he cares and that he's holding everyone to a high standard. However, with the Warriors struggling to stack consistent wins, he may be running the risk of alienating his teammates. It's a fine line for him to walk, but also a potentially necessary one.

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Jimmy Butler pinpoints key contributor to loss vs. Rockets