Warriors’ revamped bench paying immediate dividends
The Golden State Warriors are off to their best start in 20 years, beginning the season 4-0.
The Warriors dominating their opponents, led by their dynamic backcourt, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. But it is the depth of this team that is making it so effective on both ends of the floor.
Last season, the Warriors’ bench was non-existent with only Draymond Green contributing on a regular basis. The Warriors bench mob consisted of Green, an inconsistent Harrison Barnes, Marreese Speights, Steve Blake and Jordan Crawford. This bench was one of the worst in the league, forcing Curry, Thompson, David Lee, Andrew Bogut and Andre Iguodala to play heavy minutes, causing fatigue and injuries.
It is the depth of this team that is making it so effective on both ends of the floor.
This season, it is a much different story, with Barnes and Green inserted into the starting lineup and Iguodala and Lee coming off the bench. Barnes and Green have flourished in the starting five whereas Iguodala has provided stability to the bench. Out are Blake and Crawford and in are Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa.
Livingston provides a calmness and smoothness about him that most backup point guards do not have and is the complete opposite of Curry. Curry is a sharpshooter, who has never seen a shot that he does not like, whereas Livingston uses his length to post up and slash to the hole. Livingston has the ability to start for countless teams as showed last season, starting for the Brooklyn Nets. If Curry goes down, he would fill in nicely at the point guard position.
Barbosa can fill in for either Curry or Thompson with his array of flip shots, three-point range and lightning speed in the open court. He is instant offense when he comes in and that was never more evident than Wednesday night against the Clippers. Thompson picked up two quick fouls and Barbosa paid immediate dividends, scoring seven points in the first quarter, blowing the game open where the Warriors were never threatened.
In the front court, the Warriors are stacked as well. In addition to Iguodala, the Warriors are deep at power forward and center. Lee re-injured his right hamstring Wednesday night but in the limited playing time he had, he showed no signs of rust in his game. He scored six points, hitting a couple mid-range jumpers and a left handed hook in the lane. He could easily start on this team but Green is playing so well — why would you change the starting lineup? At least for a couple games, Coach Steve Kerr won’t have to worry about that this question and will continue to start Green.
The Warriors have the center position covered as well. A healthy Bogut is extremely important to this team and probably the main reason why the Warriors fell to the Clippers in the first round of the postseason last season. The only way to keep him healthy this season is to limit his minutes. This is where Festus Ezeli and Ognjen Kuzmic come in. You won’t see Kuzmic play much but Ezeli will be key to the Warriors’ success. He provides the Warriors with an inside presence on both ends of the floor and an amazing motor that is unmatched by anyone on the squad. Along with Iguodala, Lee and Livingston, Ezeli has the ability to a starter in this league, especially with the lack of the depth at the center position in the NBA.
With four potential starters, the Warriors sport one of the deepest benches in the NBA and it should be no surprise that they are one of the top teams in the Western Conference. If this bench can stay healthy and everyone plays their role, there is no reason why this team won’t win the Pacific Division and possibly a number one seed in the Western Conference.
Even the most delirious Warriors fan would not have said that before the season.