Andre Iguodala’s return could be nearing, and the Warriors need him
LOS ANGELES — The post-practice action at American Airlines Center this week should give Warriors fans a bit of hope about the team’s injured players.
In one corner, Draymond Green was running 3-point drills and working on his balance with Director of Sports Medicine Rick Celebrini. Behind him, center James Wiseman worked his off-hand shot against assistant coach Dejan Milojevic.
On the other side, Andre Iguodala got a few shots up alone. The 38-year-old had just participated in his first 3-on-3 scrimmage since straining his back on Feb. 7 against Oklahoma City. Though he isn’t expected to play in Los Angeles against the Lakers or in Denver, Iguodala’s return may be on the horizon, head coach Steve Kerr said.
“He’s feeling good. I talked to him today and he’s feeling good. Making strides,” Kerr said on Wednesday.
And that’s huge.
With a 43-20 record and 19 games remaining in the regular season, the first seed may be out of the question and their second seed in peril, but a playoff spot is all but guaranteed.
There’s plenty of space for Iguodala to get healthy in time to play in the regular season’s final weeks and the playoffs, where every penny of his veteran minimum contract pays off.
For the variety of ways the Warriors have lost seven of their last nine games, lack of communication and cohesion have been the dysfunction’s common denominator. That’s raised voices clamoring for Green — the point forward and defensive composer who makes the team run like a machine. But his back injury rehab continues without a set return date.
An Iguodala return adds another point forward into the mix that can right the ship.
“Draymond and Andre are both point forwards,” Kerr said. “They’re both guys who manage the game and understand time and score, when to push it and pull it back out. They understand how to get Steph open, how to get Klay open — whether it’s with the ball or setting screens. Both of those guys are huge for our attack.”
A savvy point forward could have remedied a few issues in their most recent loss to Dallas. Take Steph Curry, who was trapped so hard at half-court on every possession that he couldn’t get a single shot up in Golden State’s attempted fourth quarter comeback.
Curry hit four 3-pointers on five attempts that game, but had to look to his teammates to take advantage of the 3-on-4 defense. Though rookie Moses Moody stepped up, scoring 13 fourth-quarter points to tie the game at 104 with just over six minutes remaining, the Warriors needed Curry’s shooting to get over the hump.
Similar to Green, Iguodala gives the Warriors a steady playmaker who can create when Curry gets trapped, allowing him to move off ball and relocate. Klay Thompson’s return to the fold deflects some focus off Curry when they share the court, allowing Iguodala and Green more room to make the right pass or decision in crunch time minutes.
He can also wrangle a frenzied unit off the bench, offering advice so complex that sometimes younger players can’t comprehend it real time, Damion Lee said. But his play helps set things right.
“Point forward, it’s amazing his ability to see the floor, his finishing and his way of setting guys up and knowing how to get guys shots,” Lee said.
I want to say its super easy, but we have guys who are still learning the game. He as so much knowledge and information that guys arent able t pick up in real time that guys haven’t been able to pick up in real time.
When Green is sitting, Iguodala’s ability to facilitate the offense and move the ball effectively can also shore up a scattered bench unit playing either too frantically or stagnant. Take the Warriors’ New Years Day win over the Utah Jazz, where Iguodala hit two big 3-pointers to create some separation, but fueled the win with his eight assists.
“Andre was huge tonight. So many guys played well,” Kerr said. “Our team played well together, but I feel like Andre held it together for us when things went haywire in that third quarter and the Jazz took it to us. Andre was amazing, the way he directs the offense and handles the ball, distributes it and you know how good he is defensively.”
Though he’s only played 26 games this year — playing just two games since Jan. 18 — his impact is felt off the court, too. The Warriors brought him back, in part, because he’s an invaluable leader, somewhat of a coach.
“We’ve done well without them, we’ve won games,” Kerr said. “We have to continue to push and really dig our heels in to try to get some wins before he comes back.”