4. Let Ezeli Play Through It
Though Andrew Bogut finished with a respectable plus/minus of +14, the numbers are misleading thanks to Stephen Curry’s third quarter barrage. The truth is that this has been a tough series for Bogut, who has largely been outplayed by the younger and more nimble Steven Adams.
Head coach Steve Kerr stuck with Bogut in the starting lineup again for Game 2, but when the Aussie needed a breather, Festus Ezeli was actually given a chance to play through some early struggles and foul trouble, finally finding his place in this series.
Klay Thompson slips in a sharp bounce-pass to Ezeli for the #AssistOfTheNight! https://t.co/eZ8vBUzWHs
— NBA (@NBA) May 19, 2016
In Game 1, Ezeli picked up four fouls in just eight minutes. Kerr kept him on an extremely short leash despite OKC’s rebounding advantage in the second half, while Ezeli finished with only three points and three rebounds.
In Game 2, however, Kerr let Ezeli ride it out a little longer despite two quick fouls, and the result was 12 points, five rebounds and one block in 14 minutes of action. He went a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor and was a +8 despite going just 2-for-6 from the foul line.
Ezeli was outstanding, think he should play rather than Bogut, while they do need to close with Death Lineup. Got great looks late w/ it.
— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) May 19, 2016
Bogut may not be athletic enough to keep up with OKC’s younger frontcourt, but Ezeli is a more mobile option that Kerr should turn to a bit more often in this series.
Even though he struggles at times with tasks as simple as catching the ball in traffic, letting Ezeli stay on the floor and play through those momentary lapses is the only way the Warriors will have any frontcourt depth in this series.
Playing Ezeli short minutes and yanking after poor stretches only makes his issue. He needs to relax. That comes with minutes
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) May 19, 2016
Next: No. 3