Golden State Warriors: 5 Takeaways From Game 5 vs. Thunder

2. Go Big Or Go Home

Getting good Draymond Green was huge for the Warriors, as was Stephen Curry’s fourth quarter onslaught at the rim and at the foul line. But to be truthful, the biggest X-factor for the Dubs in Game 5 was Andrew Bogut, and it’s not even close.

For the first four games of the series, Bogut had been little more than an afterthought. He had scored a grand total of 12 points, he hadn’t played more than 17 minutes in a single game, and he had only recorded 17 rebounds. Steven Adams was making him look like a complete scrub.

But with the Warriors’ patented Lineup of Death getting torched by OKC’s makeshift small-ball lineup, Kerr realized he couldn’t go small against the Thunder anymore. That required Bogut to rise to the challenge of cancelling out Adams at the center spot.

Bogut answered the call and then some in Game 5. Despite looking a bit shaky in the opening minutes, Bogut finished the game with 15 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.

He made seven of his nine field goal attempts, had four crucial offensive boards and finally outplayed Adams (eight points, 10 rebounds). Most importantly, he stayed out of foul trouble, which allowed him to stay on the floor for 30 minutes and aid the Warriors in the battle for the boards.

In 30 minutes of action, Bogut looked more like the center who’s helped ground an elite defense and an otherworldly offense for the last two years. The question is, can he sustain that level of play (and the physical exertion that comes with the boost in playing time) for another two games?

The Warriors might need him to, since their Lineup of Death has been outscored by 24 points in 36 minutes of action this series. If going small isn’t an option for long stretches anymore, the Dubs need Bogut to make his next game the best game of his life…twice.

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