Did I just time-travel back to 2017? No, maybe not. There’s no Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant on the Warriors lineup. But there was someone who lit the sky tonight. It was the Big Face, Jimmy Butler. So, the trade seemed to have worked. 52 games into the season, the Dubs’ bench didn’t look happier than they did today. Especially, Butler brought back the smile on Stephen Curry’s face after the Dubs dominated the Bulls with a blowout 131-111 win.

On his debut, Jimmy Buckets did everything he could on the floor to bring back the hope in Dub Nation. And the fans who criticized the trade to send out Andrew Wiggins seemed to have taken the backseat. Everything started right from the tip-off. 30 seconds into the game, Buddy Hield threw a lob right at the edge of the rim, and the ex-Heat star flew in at the right moment, making an explosive dunk. It set the tone for what the fans were going to expect.

However, it wasn’t a straight-up offensive domination. At one point in time, the Bulls expanded their lead to 24 points. It looked like the Warriors’ fate will continue even with Jimmy Butler on the lineup. But the Dubs pulled back a miracle.

Poetically, the last time Dubs won a game trailing by 24+ points was in 2017. The time when the team had KD and Klay were on the roster. Moreover, the camaraderie is already thriving on the roster. Take a look at this.

More importantly, fans have begun showering love for their new team member. There were times when Stephen Curry called the team “mid” and questioned its ability, saying, “We weren’t really built for making crazy comebacks.” Looks like it’s changed now. Let’s find out what fans have to say.

Dub Nation backtracks and hails Jimmy Butler

There’s no doubt that the Warriors were skeptical about roping in Jimmy Butler. Even a report suggested that Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry hesitated the trade, considering the potential turmoil. Well, if it was actually true, we can’t blame them, as Butler has a history of troubles. Even the way he was forced out of the Heat franchise was a movie in itself. At the same time, (some) fans, on the other hand, doubted the difference that Butler could create. I guess, they were wrong.

In response to Joe Shasky’s attempt to call out fans who considered Butler trade overrated, a fan wrote, “Yea I have no shame in saying “I did” i really did…and goddammit those tough 2s…we need those tough 2s.” Yes, Butler brought the hope back in fans. The team really looked different tonight. Initially, whenever Steph’s off the court, the team’s offense abruptly dies down. Tonight, it was a different experience. In fact, Jimmy’s tough reverse lay up in the last quarter left curry elated at the bench.

Adding to it, another fan wrote, “A Warrior who gets to the line. OMFG! ABOUT DAMN TIME.” The team relied on Andrew Wiggins to do that paint job. While he did what he could in a most convincing fashion, Butler was different. The 35-year-old brought the energy that the Warriors missed in the last few seasons. Another fan wrote, “His intensity is gonna make a difference in close games.” We all know the difference that Curry can make in clutch and, if you add Butler to it. Damn, the Warriors look really scary!

On the other hand, some fans are in denial. They aren’t ready to accept that they underestimated Butler. A fan wrote, “Did we? Lmao it’s Jimmy Butler, you guys just see any trade and hate it.” To be honest, the majority of the fans didn’t consider the trade to work, considering the star’s issues with previous teams and age. And another fan wrote, “No offense, but have you ever seen him play before?” Yes, the whole world saw it tonight. What do you expect out of it? Will the Dubs go on to win two back-to-back like the KD era? Let us know in the comments.