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#4 Deep productive bench
During the 2015 Playoff run the warm-up tshirts for the Warriors read “Strength in numbers” and rightfully so. Heading into the Playoffs, Golden State’s deep productive bench had proved itself time and again against the league’s best.
Barbosa and Livingston with their contrasting playing styles fit perfectly into the team’s offensive system. More importantly they thrive in it, allowing Curry and Thompson more rest on the bench. The management had tried various combinations for their second unit back-court until they fell onto this little surprise.
Barbosa is a sneaky, quick, agile guard who can be nifty around the rim and can shoot the long ball effectively. Livingston is a 6 foot 7 inches guard who shoots a decent mid range jumper and can also post-up small defenders. Aged 32 and 30 respectively, Barbosa and Livingston play stellar defense which really helps the team maintain their identity through their second unit.
Back-up bigs Festus Ezeli, Marreese Speights and James Micheal McAdoo once again have contrasting styles of play and in their own fashion contribute effectively to the team. Ezeli is a flat out dunker who can roll to the basket effectively. A key component of his game is his gruelling defensive style to contest everything. Speights is a 6 foot 10 inches forward who can flat out shoot the mid-range effectively, helping the team to space the floor. While McAdoo is a developing big that the team looks at as a versatile slasher to the basket.
However the most important player on the team’s bench is team captain Andre Iguodala. Every game he is the first player off the bench to enter and often times he replaces Bogut in the starting line-up while finshing games. His decision making and veteran leadership is what helps not just the second unit but also the team function like a well oiled machine. Not to forget his fabulous one on one defensive skills and ability to either eliminate or reduce the impact of the opposition’s best player, adds to his value.
