Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 5 vs. Spurs
2. Livingston, Iguodala earning their money
All season long, the Warriors’ depth was a topic of major criticism. Injuries plagued otherwise-welcome additions in Omri Casspi and Jordan Bell, while others such as newcomer Nick Young and holdovers Patrick McCaw and JaVale McGee struggled to find their level from a season ago.
Perhaps most disappointing, however, was the play of Shaun Livingston and Iguodala. Over the years, the two have been fixtures of Golden State’s bench due to their elite length and switchability, brilliant basketball I.Q. on both ends and playmaking in transition. Livingston’s mid-post game was as reliable an offensive reservoir as the Warriors had, and Iguodala’s ability to force turnovers whilst never turning the ball over himself made him among the best on/off impact guys in the NBA.
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After signing multi-year deals last summer, both veterans seemed to enter a sharp decline. Livingston shot 50.1 percent from the field (down from 53.6 and 54.7 percent over the last two years), while losing some of his defensive edge. Iguodala’s shooting fell off a steeper cliff (his 35.4 percent 3-point shooting during his first four years with the Warriors dropped to 28.2 percent in 2017-18), while his defense also regressed.
As with Green, there was a hope that the two veterans were saving themselves for the playoffs. Thus far, that appears to be just what they were doing.
Iguodala shot 41.2 percent from deep in Round 1, and was an absolute defensive force in his temporary role as a starter. Livingston, who has never scored more than 6.3 points per game in Golden State, averaged 9.4 points per game in Round 1.
His offense was especially needed in Game 5. He was the only Warrior to shoot over 50 percent (4-for-7), and finished a game-high +12.
Neither will be able to keep this up all postseason. Steve Kerr and his staff are aware of that. Just knowing that Iguodala and Livingston have this in them is a good sign, and one that can help the team ease Curry back in slowly.