Bogut’s Presence and Iguodala’s Intangibles Sorely Missed in Loss to Thunder
Before Friday night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Steve Kerr pulled a “Popovich” by resting two key contributors, Andrew Bogut and Andre Iguodala.
It looked like a great move on paper because the Golden State Warriors are currently in a stretch where they play five games in seven nights and Kerr wants to prioritize health over results. He already experimented with Shaun Livingston this week, giving him a couple games off. The Warriors were able to win both of those games, but against the Thunder, Bogut and Iguodala were sorely missed in a loss in Oklahoma City.
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The loss was felt mostly on the defensive end because without a rim protector, the Thunder constantly went to the basket, led by their own dynamic duo, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. After struggling or not playing against the Warriors, both guys exploded Friday night. Durant was his old self, scoring 36 points on a ridiculous 14 of 18 shooting from the field, and his “Thunder buddy” Westbrook messed around and got a triple double, the first triple-double against the Warriors since Pau Gasol in 2013. Westbrook had 17 points, 17 assists and 15 rebounds, completely controlling the game and his matchup with Stephen Curry.
Not only did the Thunder’s dynamic duo have a great game, but also their role players stepped up as well, most notably Serge Ibaka. Ibaka had a field day against the much smaller Warriors, scoring 27 points of his own and keeping alive extra possessions on the glass, contributing to a 54 -43 rebound and a 58-48 points in the paint advantage for the victorious Thunder. Newly acquired Dion Waiters also joined the scoring party, hitting 50 percent from the field, scoring 21 points off the bench in his best game with Oklahoma City.
Would the Warriors have won this game with Bogut and Iguodala? That remains to be seen but the Thunder clearly had a game plan to attack the paint and they “executed,” as Westbrook profoundly put it during his postgame presser:
If Bogut and Iguodala did play, the Thunder’s game plan would have definitely changed and possibly the result as well. With both Bogut and Iguodala in the game, the Warriors defense dramatically improves because it forces their opponents to become jump shooting teams, where the Warriors thrive on defense.
Bogut’s presence in the paint intimidates opponents because he can block your shot and alter it with his huge body. With this in mind, most Warriors opponents become perimeter oriented where Iguodala and rest of the wings excel. Iguodala is probably the Warriors’ best perimeter defender by deflecting passes, locking down his opponent and contesting every shot. His job last night would have been to guard Durant – which is easier said than done; but would have made it that much more difficult for him to score, especially with no one driving to the paint with Bogut anchoring the defense.
So if Bogut and Iguodala had played in this game, Westbrook would not have been able to drive with reckless abandon to the hoop because of Bogut’s presence. Durant would have had less place to work with because Iguodala would be locking him down and Bogut’s presence would deter him from driving. Ibaka would not have been able to pull down as many rebounds and have so much success in the paint because Bogut absolutely inhales rebounds and once again, his presence is intimidating.
Take those three out of the game or allow them to struggle and that is how the Warriors took the first three games from the Thunder this season – on the back of Bogut’s presence, shrinking the floor and allowing the Warriors wings to contest shots. This is why the Warriors are the best defensive team in the NBA and if Kerr wants to rest someone in the future, he should think twice about that decision and how it will affect this team. Maybe he should sacrifice offense next time because Bogut is the anchor in the paint and Iguodala controls the perimeter, or perhaps refrain from resting both at the same time.