The Golden State Warriors have faced their fair share of problems this postseason, most of which surround consistency. It almost seems as if no Warriors player can have two good games in a row. Except for one guy.
Andrew Wiggins has played at an All-Star level most of this postseason. He has averaged 15.2 points, 1.4 assists, and 7.1 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, as well as a steal per game across nine games.
The first time All-Star is shooting 51% from the field and 33% from beyond the three-point arc during those games.
While those stats don’t jump out at you, he has been the most consistent player for the Warriors, only scoring single digits once while only fouling more than three times once as well. Wiggins has also been a net even or better in all but one game (Game three against the Denver Nuggets.)
Wiggins has also controlled his turnovers only averaging 1.3 per game most of which came from great defense by the Nuggets and Grizzlies. Turnovers have been a major issue with this team, Wiggins being able to limit them is huge.
Visually, Andrew Wiggins has had short stints of being the best player on the floor for the Golden State Warriors.
While the stats seem mediocre, he has looked anything but that. He has put multiple players on momentum-swinging posters and had some very timely blocks and steals.
Wiggins has taken some important strides while on the Warriors, most notably his newly found defensive prowess. However, he has also learned to have a much better shot selection as well, no longer settling for deep twos or contested threes as he did early in his career.
This has led to a spike in efficiency that we saw in the regular season the last two seasons. Though some of that efficiency has dipped, if game two against the Memphis Grizzlies were to be ignored, he would be shooting a much better 44% from three these playoffs.
This would also naturally lead to a large leap in his percentage from the field as he shot 38% that game. Outside of that one game, he is shooting 53.4% from the field.
Wiggins has also been the player to step up in stretches where nobody else can hit a shot.
Golden State has had a few games where they have struggled to get good looks out of their star-studded backcourt. During these games, it has been Andrew Wiggins who has kept the Warriors in the game.
In game three against the Grizzlies, for example, the Warriors struggled to score all game long, however, Wiggins scored 17 points to keep them in it before Otto Porter and Stephen Curry were able to start hitting in the fourth quarter.
Every game where the “Golden Trio” are unable to score for any portion of time, Wiggins is right there and able to quietly keep them afloat while waiting for others to find their rhythm.
Without Wiggins being able to score quickly and efficiently, the Warriors may not have the lead in the Series against Memphis right now and may have even had a tougher series against Denver as well.
This doesn’t even take into account the All-Defensive team caliber defense that he has played. He has found himself defending all sorts of players, from the MVP Nikola Jokic, to the Incredibly gifted Ja Morant, to the three-level scorer Jaren Jackson Jr.
Against every player he has faced, Wiggins has held his ground if not completely shut down his opponent. He has been elite on that end of the floor.
Andrew Wiggins has been huge for the Warriors and may just help lead them to a championship if he continues this level of play.