There’s something enjoyable about watching the Golden State Warriors right now. They opened the season 0-3, and suddenly they’ve won eight straight. Steph Curry is playing terrific basketball, younger players are finding their feet, and the team looks like it’s having fun again.

Then came Monday’s 138-87 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Jimmy Butler wasn’t playing, but he still managed to become part of the show. Dressed just like the coaching staff and carrying his own clipboard, Butler even drew up a play for Curry. The instructions? “Pass to Steph.”

It was funny, of course, but I think there was something more interesting going on.

The Warriors Have More Than One Voice Leading the Way

Butler’s little coaching routine was a reminder that leadership doesn’t always have to come from the five players on the floor. He’s recovering from an ACL injury, but he’s still around the team, involved and clearly enjoying what he’s seeing.

That’s important for a group trying to build something during a long season. Curry remains the centre of attention, and at 38 he’s still producing at an extraordinary level. He’s averaging 30.6 points per game and shooting 45.7 percent from three-point range. But the Warriors have other voices who understand what it takes to win.

Draymond Green, Butler, Curry and veteran Al Horford bring plenty of experience and basketball intelligence. They can help younger players understand the game in ways that don’t always show up in the box score. That’s one reason this winning streak is worth watching. Golden State isn’t relying on one player to carry everything.

What Happens When Butler Gets Back?

Here’s another reason Warriors fans have something to look forward to. Butler has indicated he hopes to return around January, while Moses Moody is also working his way back from a knee injury. Meanwhile, Brandin Podziemski is contributing, and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg has given the team another source of energy. There are still roster questions, and the possibility of using Kristaps Porzingis’ contract in a trade adds another wrinkle.

Nobody should assume an eight-game winning streak means Golden State has everything figured out. But there’s a difference between a team winning games and a team looking comfortable with one another. That’s what caught my attention about Butler on Monday. He couldn’t help the Warriors by playing, so he found another way to be involved.

And when a team is winning, enjoying itself and getting important players back down the road, it’s fair to wonder just how much better it might become. The instructions are pretty simple: pass Curry the ball. The bigger question is what this Warriors team might look like when Butler is back beside him.

Related: Paul George Stole the Show: Tatum vs. Brown? Not So Much

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