Welcome Andre, Welcome

All-Star Swingman Brings Flexibility to Warriors

By: Ryan Ocenada

July 18, 2013

(Image courtesy of CSN Bay Area)

           

     The Golden State Warriors’ acquisition of Andre Iguodala this offseason will provide the team with two key elements in order to continue their success next season: playmaking and versatility.

The departure of Jarrett Jack to the Cleveland Cavaliers, has undoubtedly left a void in the playmaking department. Although he had a tendency to call his own number more times than Warrior fans were comfortable with, he was usually the only player other than Stephen Curry who could create his own shot on a consistent basis. The addition of Iguodala should help supplant some of the playmaking that Jack provided, with less jacking up shots and more producing shots for his teammates.  Iguodala’s ability to break down the defense off the dribble to either score or pass, should help to lighten the burden on Curry’s shoulders. This facet was essential for the Warriors’ front office to address because during the teams second round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, rangy defenders Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green managed to neutralize Curry. The Warriors offense tends to grind to a halt if Curry isn’t hitting jumpers or creating scoring opportunities for others. 

           

The series against the Spurs also revealed that Harrison Barnes could serve as a legitimate scoring threat in the mid-post and as a slasher to the rim, but he was not nearly consistent enough to overcome Curry being blanketed by the Spurs’ defenders. Iguodala was brought in to become that secondary playmaker and he should have no trouble sliding into that role. The Iguodala trade should at least guarantee the Warriors a trip back to the playoffs, with a 50-win season and homecourt advantage as a realistic ceiling. The acquisition should also add to the aspect that contributed heavily to the Warriors’ postseason success: versatility. The team’s hot shooting, especially from Curry, certainly helped catapult them to playoff victories, but the shooting was opened up thanks to the Warriors newfound positional versatility. 

David Lee’s unfortunate hip flexor injury against the Denver Nuggets in the first round, brought about positional flexibility by necessity, but it proved successful nonetheless. Mark Jackson’s decision to start Jarrett Jack in the backcourt and move Harrison Barnes to the power forward position, opened up the floor for the Warriors. Driving lanes emerged and open shots soon followed. Iguodala will now take Jack’s place in this small lineup, without the follies that accompany Jack’s game (i.e. defensive struggles and shoot-first tendencies). When Jackson shifts to this small lineup during games, of Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Barnes, and Bogut, the team becomes more athletic, yet keeps the shooting that allows space for drives to the rim. This lineup can also hold its own defensively since every player except Curry is a capable enough defender to help mask any unfavorable matchups their star point guard may have.  

The Warriors have seemingly been stuck on a rebuilding treadmill for the past 20-plus years. Now, that patience, combined with solid drafting and trades have brought the team to the unknown realm of a genuine playoff contender. The acquisition of Iguodala is the proverbial cherry on top of this decades-long rebuilding project. A legitimate, two-way all-star in his prime who compliments the pieces on this roster, that is the one element almost all of the title contending teams have. With Iguodala in the fold, the Warriors can now be counted among that elite class of teams.