Golden State Warriors: Four takeaways from win over New Orleans Pelicans

Andre Iguodala is very important

The Golden State Warriors did not have Andre Iguodala for their opener and they lost. The Golden State Warriors had Andre Iguodala in their second game and they won. It’s as simple as that.

Though he’s not the All-Star player he was in Philadelphia, Iguodala continues to be extremely effective well into his 30’s. There’s a reason he was named the 2015 Finals MVP (though, to be fair, I believe Stephen Curry should have won). Iguodala’s impact on the Warriors cannot be stressed enough.

The Warriors missed him against the Houston Rockets. There was a hole in reserve playmaking, rebounding, and defense. When Houston started to cut into Golden State’s lead, they were without an important stabilizing force. The gap his absence left was made even more glaring when Draymond Green had to exit the game with an injury.

Iguodala was +4 in 23 minutes of action. He had seven points, seven rebounds, and four assists. He energizes the Warriors with plays like his coast-to-coast slam in which he shed the defense with a quick hesitation move.

The Warriors almost lost Iguodala in the offseason and it would have been a huge blow to the team. His veteran savvy is up there with LeBron James’ ability to understand and visualize the game. Golden State definitely missed him and his play against New Orleans proved that.