Why Buddy Hield is an X-factor as Warriors try to close out Rockets

HOUSTON – Buddy Hield is adept at smiling at – and shrugging off – what he calls “all the fun and clowning (expletive)” that has followed him during his first season with the Warriors.

The ninth-year guard who has not missed a game in two seasons has garnered national attention for his dribbling gaffes and his lighthearted faux feud with teammate Jimmy Butler.

“That’s the part of the game I don’t take too seriously,” Hield told the Bay Area News Group.. 

The ongoing playoff series with the second-seeded Rockets is another matter. 

Hield, 32, is playing only his second postseason, but has looked right at home next to battle-tested teammates Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney. 

He scored 17 points off the bench in a Game 3 victory, and then started for the first time since February and dropped 15 points in Monday’s 109-106 victory that gave Golden State a 3-1 series lead as Butler returned to the lineup. 

After making 203 3-pointers during the regular season, Hield said the Warriors’ coaching staff has given him a bright green light to fire away in the playoffs. His willingness to shoot has stretched the supersized Rockets lineups, keying 13-2 and 18-1 runs during the Game 4 victory alongside Butler and the rest of the starters. 

He has made eight 3-pointers over the last two games. Hield might not be Klay Thompson, but his shooting has still opened up the Warriors’ attack. 

“I think that unit gave us more speed, more shooting, and it forced some matchups for them to make the game a little more difficult,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. 

Hield was a plus-14 and plus-17 over the past two games, with his oft-maligned defense even drawing rare praise. 

He picked Houston guard and NorCal native Jalen Green’s pocket twice in the second quarter, and was even active on the boards with four rebounds.

The Oklahoma alum and proud Bahamian has made it a point to not show any sort of weakness after what he called “loud” turnovers or mistakes against a Rockets team that has spent the series trying to win the mental battle with the veteran Warriors.

“Once you show them you’re not rattled, they tend to back off you,” Hield said. 

Hield has a chance to become part of something that has become a tradition for the modern-day Warriors. 

The Warriors are 23-11 in closeout games during the Curry-Kerr-Green era, and are 4-against the Rockets in such games during the teams’ previous four series from 2015 to 2019. 

Although Hield has not shot a free throw yet during the series, his 82.8% accuracy rate from the line could help provide even more of a difference between the teams.

Golden State is shooting 78.3% on 69 foul shots, while Houston is a ghastly 60-of-95 (63.2%) from the line. 

Houston missed 12 free throws in Game 4, and another nine in Game 1, both losses. 

If Hield does his part and helps end the Rockets postseason in five games, that will give him even more reason to smile at and shrug off the outside distractions that follow him. 

“The teammates know the value I bring to the court, and I’m just happy we got the win Saturday and today,” Hield said. “That’s what matters.”