A healthy Shaun Livingston provides plenty of benefits for the Golden State Warriors on the floor.
Through the drama of LeBron James and Charles Barkley, an interesting discussion point came about. While the discussion of the Cleveland Cavaliers wanting to add more came up and Barkley asked how much more they need, Shaquille O’Neal opined that it isn’t just about the star players. He said it’s the role players that help win the championship and referenced Kenny Smith being a key part of the Houston Rockets back-to-back championships. That line of thinking applies to the Golden State Warriors as well and notably Shaun Livingston.
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Golden State failed in their bid to win back-to-back championships last season and it was a struggle of a series for everyone. Stephen Curry wasn’t playing his best basketball and that forced Shaun Livingston into a starting role while Curry battled a knee injury. These are the types of player O’Neal talks about when requiring role players that can help lift a team.
While the Warriors reloaded with Kevin Durant in free agency, they’re going to need players to step up off the bench and lift them to a championship. That’s where a player like Livingston provides unbelievable value to a team.
Charles Barkley responds to LeBron James' recent comments. pic.twitter.com/tJQYQzF3Bs
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 3, 2017
There’s been a trend this year, where Steve Kerr has been getting plenty of the young guys on the bench experience and they have stepped up big. When the playoffs roll around and they make another championship push, it’s going to be a veteran like Livingston that puts them in the right spots.
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He’s been banged up a bit lately and getting him healthy should be the key for the Warriors. This drives the point that Shaq is making in his arguments with Barkley. It doesn’t matter how top heavy you are if the players behind them can’t pull everything together.
In contrast, Cleveland having a player like a Matthew Dellavedova played a big role in the team hoisting their first championship. Livingston played that same role in helping the Warriors hoist one a couple of years ago. If it is indeed the guys off the bench that tie everything together, then Livingston is a valuable key to a title run.