The full release of the NBA schedule on Thursday has given the Golden State Warriors an unexpected boost when it comes to Jimmy Butler's return from his torn ACL injury.
The Warriors will play 22 of their first 40 games at Chase Center, with the slight tilt in home games through the first half of the season giving them a better opportunity to keep their head above water until Butler returns from injury.
Warriors get unexpected Jimmy Butler boost from schedule release
While there is a long way to go in Butler's recovery process, the six-time All-Star could theoretically return in January which would place him around the 12-month mark from when he suffered the brutal injury against his former team, the Miami Heat, on January 19.
Golden State's hopes of a return to the playoffs will be highly dependant on how they can manage the first half of the season before Butler's return. It's hard to envisage them being a top six team in the Western Conference without the soon to be 37-year-old, but they have to be above .500 if possible and hang around the Play-In Tournament range before attacking the second half of the season with Butler back in the fold.
The Warriors held a paltry 14-30 record without Butler last season, though much of that also included the absence of franchise superstar Stephen Curry who missed 27-straight games due to a worrisome knee injury.
Golden State will also hope to regain starting wing Moses Moody at some point during the second half of the season, with the 24-year-old making good progress from the devastating torn patellar tendon injury he suffered against the Dallas Mavericks on March 23.
Warriors will hope to build momentum before Jimmy Butler's return
The Warriors held a 22-19 record at home and 15-26 on the road last season, further emphasizing the assistance of a slightly home-heavy schedule before Butler's potential return. In fact, Golden State may be hoping not just to hold down the fort, but actually build some momentum that reduces the pressure on Butler once he's back on the floor.
Golden State will play 10 of 12 games at home between December 22 and January 13, including a seven-game home-stand starting against the Houston Rockets on December 30. During this span the Warriors will face five Eastern Conference teams, with games (in order) against the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Hornets.
No matchup necessarily presents as easy for the Warriors entering next season, but that's as cushy a slate of games as they could possibly get to try and make a push before Butler even returns.
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