Butler has been everything the Golden State Warriors could have hoped for and more since the team acquired him from the Miami Heat at the trade deadline.

Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield (7) picks up forward Jimmy Butler III (10) after a play against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Smoothie King Center. / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images After Hield was heroic during the Warriors' Game 7 win over the Houston Rockets—leading the team with 33 points—Butler couldn't avoid being nice to Hield anymore.

In fairness to Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob, this was the farthest thing from a victory lap. He was standing still, for starters, playing the role of head cheerleader in the corner of the Toyota Center court where the players whose massive paychecks he covers were practically skipping back to the visitors’ locker room to celebrate their Game 7 finish over the Houston Rockets.

So I’ll point to this: Road teams have won nine of the last 13 NBA playoff Game 7s. Make it 10 of 14. Curry and the Dubs find a way to stay on the right side of their razor-thin margin for error and win Game 7 in Minneapolis, much to Alex Rodriguez’s chagrin. Warriors in 7.

With a chance to close out their first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors, the Houston Rockets instead delivered a playoff flop to end their season