Needing a spark after losing consecutive
NBA Finals contests, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr opted for ‘small
ball.’ Kerr initially told reporters he had no plans to change the usual
starting lineup of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Draymond
Green and Andrew Bogut.
“I lied,” Kerr said following the
Warriors’ 103-82 thumping of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4. “I don’t think
they hand you the trophy based on morality. They give it to you if you win.
Sorry about that.”
Kerr’s deception worked to a tee. In
came forward Andre Iguodala, out came Bogut for the starting five. Iguodala,
who has thrived in the Finals, revved up the engine for a Warriors squad that
had looked disheveled in their previous two consecutive losses. Aside from speeding up the
pace of Golden State’s offense, Iguodala decelerated LeBron James’ otherworldly
rhythm he had maintained for the first three games of the championship series.
James had his worst game of the
Finals, missing 15 of his 22 shots and going scoreless in the fourth quarter. He
went 4-14 on possessions in which he was guarded by Iguodala. In addition to
containing King James, Iguodala excelled on the offensive end, posting 22
points on 8-of-15 (4-for-9 from three-point range) shooting.
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| Andre Iguodala found a way to slow down LeBron James in Golden State's Game 4 blowout victory. (Bob Donnan/USA Today Sports) |
Going small was a major risk for the
Warriors as they had been getting pounded on the glass by the Cavaliers’
Timofey Mozgov and Tristan Thompson all series. Kerr recognized Golden State
was going to get beat on the boards regardless, so his decision to insert
Iguodala was predicated on the notion that a small lineup would deliver better
shots and a faster pace. Kerr’s gamble paid off. Golden State moved the ball
quicker and found more open shots. The Warriors shot 46.8 percent (39-of-77,
including 12-of-40 from three-point range) from the field, their highest of the
season. Finally, the Warriors created penetration to the basket, and as a
result, often found an open man in the corner.
The lineup change limited Bogut to
just three minutes of playing time. But it opened the door for David Lee, the
former All-Star who had been riding the pine for most of the postseason. Lee,
who had previously been in Kerr’s doghouse, was effective for the second
straight game. He poured in nine points (3-of-7 shooting) with five rebounds
and three assists in five minutes of play. Lee helped the Warriors bench
outscore Cleveland’s reserves 19-7 in Game 4.
Lee’s ability to thrive in the small
ball lineup was a pleasant surprise for a Warriors’ bench that has underachieved
these Finals. But Iguodala stole the show in a game Golden State needed to have
facing a 2-1 deficit in the series. Iguodala handled the ball almost as much as Curry and yet committed only one turnover.
Iguodala posted a plus-16 in the
victory. James, meanwhile, managed a minus-15. Despite James’ providing three
superhuman outings to open the series, his struggles with Iguodala—who saw by
far his most playing time (39 minutes) of the series—are actually consistent. According to NBA.com/Stats, James has been a negative player (minus-12.7
points per 100 possessions) in the Finals with Iguodala on the court and at
plus-5.4 in the limited time he has spent away from Iguodala.
"I didn’t think Andre guarded him any
differently than he did in the first three games,” Kerr said. “It’s a different
game. LeBron’s shots didn’t go in. The same shots may go in next game. And you
never know how it’s going to play out. But Andre, he battles him. He’s played
him a lot in his career. Whatever team he’s been on, he’s been the guy who has
to guard LeBron when LeBron comes to town.”
Iguodala’s shutdown defense on James
eliminated any chance of the Cavaliers taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.
Iguodala’s play also helped Kerr win his gamble with his small lineup, and it now it appears Golden State may have found its formula to defeat Cleveland and capture
the franchise’s first title since 1975.
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| Andre Iguodala stole the show in Game 4, helping Golden State even the 2015 NBA Finals at two games apiece. (AP Photo) |
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