Golden State Warriors: An ode to the beloved Shaun Livingston
By Adam Serpant
The silky mid-range
As previously mentioned, Livingston’s offensive play in the modern era can limit what a team can do when he runs the floor. Ben Simmons’ often lack of effectiveness in the half-court is an example of what a lack of a 3-pointer can do to a point guard.
Shaun was by no means a great shooter, but that mid-range…
At the peak of his powers, it seemed as though Livingston never missed a turn-around mid-range jumper.
His superior size over his defender allowed him to post up and shoot over his man in a way that is not dissimilar to the way Durant is able to do so. KD, of course, can stretch his play far wider than Shaun, but Livingston’s post-game added an extra layer to an already transcendent offense.
What made Livingston so bothersome on the offensive end was his efficiency.
In five seasons with Golden State, he never shot below 50% from the field. For a perimeter player, it is a tremendous achievement, and this made him a proverbial security blanket for Steve Kerr to employ in times of need.
Together with Iguodala, Livingston was vital in many instances where the starting group struggled and needed assistance from the super-vets. The power of the bench unit declined in the KD years due to limited cap space, but Andre and Shaun were always relied upon to steady the ship.