It’s early, but Shaun Livingston is Underperforming

If you read the majority of my articles, you will find me a very optimistic person in regards to the Golden State Warriors.

I look for the best in players and find reason to put my hope in them.  When David Lee joined the Warriors I saw it as the first All-Star joining the Warriors in free agency in what felt like forever.

But there was, from the beginning, one move that I was pessimistic of, and that was the signing of Shaun Livingston.

To be fair, I had not paid much attention to Livingston before his joining the Warriors, and even after his signing I had considered it no more than a low-key training camp contract player whom may or may not pain out.  But when I went to the web and saw fans’ reaction to the signing, I was shocked.  Nets fans were so happy that Livingston got a great contract and praised him for his efforts in Brooklyn, “You guys will love him! Great addition. The Warriors look scary,” they all said.  Warriors fans called him a poor man’s Andre Iguodala.  They gave him a three year contract worth over $16 million? Who is this guy?

For those of you who remember two seasons ago, I loved Carl Landry.  I thought he was a real solid player in the rotation and gave the Warriors a spark on offense many a time when they needed it badly.  Seeing him leave the team was tough for me, but lo, Marreese Speights was supposed to be a good replacement.  Some even said he might pan out a better player than Landry.  The Warriors gave Speights an approximate three year, $11 million contract.  In comparison, I expect someone more helpful than Landry was for the Warriors for the kind of money they are giving Shaun Livingston.  And frankly, I don’t think he’s giving that kind of production now or in the future.

Livingston is averaging 2.3 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in the Warriors’ 5-2 start of the season with about 13 minutes per game.  Festus Ezeli (whom I’m not even too fond of currently) is averaging 2.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.9 blocks in 9 minutes.  Leandro Barbosa and Marreese Speights are both blowing Livingston way out of the water when it comes to production.  The playing time is reflecting the coaches’ opinions as well.  In terms of minutes he is the eighth most played player on the Warrior, almost the ninth, and he is the fifth highest paid on the team.  This year, he is making more than Klay Thompson, Festus Ezeli, and Draymond Green combined.

To be fair, Livingston underwent surgury recently and has been expected to slowly get back into the swing of things.  Minutes are low possibly due to this surgery and the fact that he may not be up to speed on the Warriors’ new offense.  But I was very pleased with what I saw when David Lee made his short-lived return, and I have not been pleased by what I’ve seen from Livingston.

I’m happy about how the Warriors are starting this season, but if I’m looking for something that needs to be fixed, Shaun Livingston needs to step his game up and start relieving more minutes off of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.  I thought that’s what he was brought in for.