Basketball

Why Andre Iguodala Will Help Harrison Barnes’ Development

hi-res-167303829_crop_exact

This article was originally published on Let’s Go Warriors.

Many fans have feared that the Golden State Warriors’ addition of Andre Iguodala will stunt Harrison Barnes‘ development. In fact, the opposite is true. If Iguodala starts and Barnes comes off the bench, this will actually help Barnes develop into a better player. Here are three reasons why:

1. Both Iguodala and Barnes have similar skillsets, so Iguodala will be a valuable mentor to Barnes, especially defensively.

Both Iguodala and Barnes are strong, athletic, and quick. Offensively, they play fairly similarly. They both like to drive to the basket using their quickness, they’re both explosive, and they can shoot threes pretty well.

Iguodala’s mentoring will help Barnes’ offensive game grow, but it will be even more valuable to Barnes on the defensive end. One of Iguodala’s strengths is his defense and his ability to guard multiple positions. Iguodala can use his expertise to teach Barnes how to become a better and more versatile defender. In addition to his defensive prowess, Iguodala’s veteran leadership and work ethic will set a great example for Barnes.

2. With Iguodala starting, it will allow Barnes to play more minutes at the power forward position, which he excelled at in the postseason.

The Warriors will most likely start Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Iguodala, David Lee, and Andrew Bogut. However, Mark Jackson will certainly want to utilize a smaller lineup, in order to play at a faster pace. At any point in the game or even when finishing games, Jackson could decide to use a lineup of Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Barnes, and Lee or Bogut.

With Barnes at the power forward position, the Warriors would be able to get into transition and spread the floor more. In the postseason, the Warriors thrived in these scenarios, especially because Barnes’ skillset matches up with the power forward position so well. He has great footwork in post-up situations, he’s faster than most power forwards, and he’s strong enough to keep up with bigger power forwards. Playing Barnes at power forward will benefit not just the Warriors, but also Barnes’ development.

3. With Iguodala starting and Barnes coming off the bench, Barnes will be able to play against the reserves of the opposing team, which will allow him to dominate offensively.

Coming off the bench, Barnes won’t have to share as many scoring opportunities with Curry, Thompson, and Lee. Instead, he will become the go-to scorer off the bench for the Warriors. If he’s playing alongside Toney Douglas, Kent Bazemore, Nemanja Nedovic, or Marreese Speights, he will become the first option on offense. He will be able to showcase his game even more against the reserves of the opposing team. Barnes would provide that instant scoring and energy off the bench that the Warriors lost when Jarrett Jack didn’t re-sign.

Instead of going up against LeBron James or Kevin Durant, he’d probably be facing the small forward or power forward in the opponents’ weaker lineup. This would allow him to take advantage of his superior speed and athleticism. In addition, when Barnes does play alongside Iguodala, Iguodala can defend the elite players like James or Durant, and Barnes can play more freely on offense and defense.

Fans fear that Barnes will play less minutes now, given Iguodala’s presence, and that this will hinder his development. However, whether Barnes starts or not, he will probably play around 25-30 minutes per game anyway, because of his skillset and value to this team. Also, even if he doesn’t start, Barnes could still finish games for the Warriors, if they choose to go small, or if someone is in foul trouble, much like how Jack finished games for the Warriors last year.

Barnes has incredible potential, so it’s understandable why fans could be worried about Iguodala hindering Barnes’ development. However, once the regular season starts and fans are able to see Iguodala’s game, they will see the positive impact that he will have on Barnes’s development. Even with Iguodala starting, Barnes could still have a breakout year for the Warriors next season.

Let’s Go Warriors 2012-2013 Report Cards: Harrison Barnes

150560690_crop_exact

This article was originally published on Let’s Go Warriors.

Harrison Barnes showed his massive potential in his rookie season with the Golden State Warriors. Off the court, he has a veteran demeanor in that he’s extremely hard-working, professional, confident, and dedicated to improving his game and helping the team win.

On the court, Barnes was the X-factor the Warriors last season. He’s athletic, explosive, and quick. He has a good shooting motion, and he has a high basketball IQ. He knows that when he’s going up against a bigger defender, he should use his speed to beat them. When he’s going up against a smaller defender, he knows to use his strength to out-muscle them.

In the regular season, Barnes averaged 9.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 43.9 percent shooting, 35.9 percent shooting from three, 75.8 percent free-throw shooting in 25.4 minutes per game in 81 games.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Barnes likes to drive to the basket and show off his athleticism and explosiveness. He uses pump-fakes to beat his defender, and he uses his speed to get to the rim, instead of always settling for threes. However, this skillset wasn’t always utilized in the regular season. Instead, he got most of his shots on spot-ups and isolations.

He was solid in the regular season, but not quite as spectacular as he was in the postseason when he started to show his true potential. He averaged 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 44.4 percent shooting, 36.5 percent shooting from three, 85.7 percent free-throw shooting in 38.4 minutes per game in 12 games.

In the postseason, Barnes showed how confident he is, how he takes good shots, and how he isn’t afraid of the extra pressure in the playoffs. With Stephen Curry injured, Klay Thompson struggling, and David Lee out with his right hip flexor injury, Barnes often became the Warriors’ biggest offensive threat in the postseason.

The Warriors took advantage of his great footwork in post-up situations, his speed, and his strength when they played him at the power forward position. He thrived in that role, because he’s faster than most power forwards, but he has the strength to keep them out of the paint.

In the playoffs, Barnes knew he was the most athletic player on the court, so he used it to his advantage. In the Warriors’ series against the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals, he would post up Tony Parker and score rather easily, and he wasn’t afraid to go right at Tim Duncan.

In Game 5 against the Denver Nuggets, Barnes also showed how he can take over a game when his teammates are struggling. He hit three three-pointers in the first quarter when others were struggling to score, and he really carried the Warriors for much of the first half. Barnes finished Game 5 with a team-high 23 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and one block. Barnes certainly carried himself like a veteran in Game 5.

AP Photo/Eric Gay

AP Photo/Eric Gay

In the Warriors’ series against the Spurs, Barnes had 19 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1, he had 26 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4, and he had 25 points and seven rebounds in Game 5.

“The guy has grown up before our very eyes,” Mark Jackson said. “He had an off the charts regular season, which put us in position to be the sixth seed. He has elevated his game in the postseason… He’s a guy that’s not afraid of the moment, obviously a guy that embraces the bright lights.”

Barnes certainly has a lot of potential to become a star in the NBA. Next season, he can improve on his off-ball defense and his shooting. He will also probably come off the bench next season because of the Warriors’ acquisition of Andre Iguodala.

However, this will not stunt his development. First of all, coming off the bench would allow Barnes to play against the reserves of the opposing team, which would allow him to dominate offensively. Second of all, the addition of Iguodala is a blessing in disguise for Barnes. Although he probably won’t start anymore, Igudoala would be a great mentor for Barnes. Iguodala could use his defensive expertise to help Barnes grow as a defender, and his veteran leadership and work ethic will set a great example for Barnes.

Barnes has amazing work ethic for a rookie, and, in the playoffs, he showed his veteran demeanor by remaining confident and consistent. The sky is the limit for Barnes, and he will have a breakout season for the Warriors next year.

BarnesGrade

Let’s Go Warriors 2012-2013 Report Cards: Klay Thompson

7285652

This article was originally published on Let’s Go Warriors.

Klay Thompson had a solid sophomore season for the Golden State Warriors last year. He played in all 82 games, and he averaged 16.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steal on 42.4 percent shooting, 40.1 percent shooting from three, and 84.1 percent free-throw shooting.

As many Warriors fans know, Thompson is known for his three-point shooting, but he’s started to show that he’s not just a catch-and-shoot player. Thompson has shown that he can create his own shot off the dribble, off a fadeaway, and off a pump fake from two-point range and from three. He doesn’t often need to do this though because of his perfect form and quick release of his jump shot.

Thompson put on some incredible shooting displays in the playoffs. For example, in Game 1 in the Warriors’ first round series against the Denver Nuggets, Thompson had a great all-around game scoring 22 points and three blocks on 52.6 percent shooting and 40 percent shooting from three. In Game 2 of that series, he scored 21 points, extremely efficiently, on 72.7 percent shooting and 83.3 percent shooting from three.

(Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

(Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Also, in Game 2 in the Western Conference semifinals series against the San Antonio Spurs, Thompson had 34 points and 14 rebounds on 50 percent shooting and 88.9 percent shooting from three.

Thompson and Stephen Curry, the Splash Brothers, create quite the three-point shooting tandem for the Warriors. They are both so lethal from three-point range that it creates all kinds of matchup problems for their opponent, and it’s hard to contain both of them in one game. The Splash Brothers were arguably the best shooting backcourt in the NBA last season.

Last season, Thompson expanded his game beyond just being an excellent shooter. Thompson became the Warriors’ best perimeter defender. He uses his size (6’7″) and length so effectively, in order to stop smaller guards from shooting mid-range jumpers or driving into the lane. Thompson shut down Ty Lawson in the series against the Nuggets, and he also did a fantastic job slowing down Tony Parker and bothering Manu Ginobili in the series against the Spurs.

Going into his third season in the NBA, Thompson still has room for improvement though. First of all, he needs to become more consistent. After his miraculous Game 2 against the Spurs, he shot 34 percent from the field for the rest of the series, and, in games 4-6, he failed to make a three-pointer.

Also, on the defensive end, he needs to be more consistent about limiting his fouls. In Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Spurs, the Warriors were up by 16 points and Thompson fouled out with 3:57 left in the fourth quarter. At that point, Thompson had limited Parker to 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting. The Spurs then went on a 18-2 run to send the game to overtime. In that span, Parker scored six points on 3-of-3 shooting, since he was able to score more freely without Thompson guarding him. Thompson needs to find a way to stay on the floor and limit his fouls.

(Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)

(Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)

Second, Thompson can improve on attacking the basket more and finishing. There were several times last season when Thompson would drive to the basket and would miss a fairly wide-open layup, which fans stared to call a “Klayup.” It didn’t appear that Thompson had trouble getting to the rim, but he couldn’t always finish. Thompson needs to use his quickness more to attack the basket, because as he converts on more of those shots, it will cause defenders to lay off him a little more on the three-point line, in order to prevent him from driving to the basket. Once he’s more comfortable with that, hopefully, finishing the play will become easier.

If Thompson can become more consistent on offense and defense, limit his fouls, and drive to the basket more often and more effectively, than he will become one of the Warriors’ best players, alongside Curry. His development is key to the Warriors’ success.

KlayGrade

Player Breakdown: What Andre Iguodala Brings to the Golden State Warriors

12_8

This article was originally published on Let’s Go Warriors.

On Thursday, the Golden State Warriors officially acquired small forward and nine-year NBA veteran Andre Iguodala. The 2012 Eastern Conference All-Star has played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets, and he has career averages of 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.7 steals in 37.4 minutes per game.

Iguodala, 29, has also played in 41 career playoff games, averaging 14.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.8 steals during the postseason.

In last season’s playoff series against the Warriors, Iguodala averaged 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.0 steals on 50 percent shooting and 48.3 percent shooting from three in 40.5 minutes per game.

Iguodala was offered a four-year, $52 million contract offer with the Sacramento Kings, but the Kings ultimately rescinded the offer. Iguodala wanted to be a Warrior, so he decided to wait and see if the Warriors were going to be able to move their large contracts and sign him.

“Mainly, the coach and the culture, the environment,” Iguodala said about why he wanted to sign with the Warriors. “I feel like they have a good culture there, a lot of great guys, great locker room. The way they’ve got those guys playing with such confidence, that comes from the coach.”

So what will Iguodala bring to the Warriors? Well, he brings a little bit of everything. Iguodala is an extremely versatile player who can play and guard several positions. He can score, he can rebound, he can pass, he’s good in transition, and he’s one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. He’s also extremely athletic, he can come through in the clutch, and he’s a fierce competitor.

Because of Iguodala’s defensive prowess, the Warriors now finally have someone strong enough and quick enough to guard the elite small forwards like Kevin Durant and LeBron James.

Just ask Stephen Curry how good of a defender Iguodala is. Iguodala used his length, size, and quickness to disrupt Curry throughout the Warriors’ playoff series against the Nuggets.

Off the court though, Curry and Iguodala are good friends. They both played on the USA men’s national basketball team that won the gold-medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Curry claims that Iguodala will have a positive impact on the Warriors’ team chemistry.

“From my experience with him, he’s a really low key guy who works hard,” Curry said. “He’s not high-maintenance or anything. Doesn’t have an ego. That’s pretty much the make-up of our locker room. He can be a vocal guy, a guy that can check somebody but be respectful about it. He fits that accountability style we’re going for.”

Iguodala seems like the perfect pairing to this Warriors team. First of all, he’s aggressive on offense and likes to drive to the basket, which will help Klay Thompson and Curry get open on the three-point line.

Second, as Curry alluded to, he will be a great addition to the Warriors’ locker room. His veteran leadership and impressive work ethic will set a great example for the younger players on the Warriors such as Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Kent Bazemore, and Nemanja Nedovic.

Third, Iguodala thrives in an up-tempo system, which he played in while on the Nuggets. His speed and athleticism in transition will certainly be a valuable asset to the Warriors.

The Warriors have added other key pieces to their rotation including Nedovic, Marreese Speights, Toney Douglas, and Jermaine O’Neal. The Warriors will have a deep, well-rounded roster next year, and they could definitely make a deep playoff run. The addition of Iguodala makes this Warriors team a serious contender in the Western Conference.

Player Breakdown: What Jermaine O’Neal Brings to the Golden State Warriors

Miami+Heat+v+Phoenix+Suns+iQFIs55fVbYl

This article was originally published on Let’s Go Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors have agreed to a one-year contract worth around the league minimum of $2 million with 17-year NBA veteran and six-time All-Star Jermaine O’Neal.

O’Neal has experienced a lot of trouble with injuries in the past few years, but, last year with the Phoenix Suns, he was in great shape and was rarely injured. Last season, O’Neal had a resurgent year with the Suns when he averaged 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in just 18.7 minutes per game in 55 games. He claims his improved health comes from a knee treatment he received in Germany before last season and again recently. O’Neal missed most of those 27 games last season because his daughter had to have surgery to repair a leaky heart valve.

The Warriors needed to add another center that could back up Andrew Bogut while Festus Ezeli recovers from his knee surgery. O’Neal will probably only play about 18 minutes per game when Ezeli returns, but he can still provide some extra defensive help to the Warriors. Here are three things that O’Neal brings to the Warriors:

1. Size
O’Neal is 6’11” and 255 pounds. With the departure of Andris Biedrins and Ezeli’s injury, the Warriors will certainly benefit from O’Neal’s size, ability to block and alter shots, and his presence in the paint.

On offense, O’Neal can use his size and length to post up and score in many different ways in the paint. Also, given Bogut’s history with injuries, O’Neal’s size will come in handy if he needs to start in place of Bogut.

2. Defense
O’Neal was arguably one of the Suns’ best interior defenders last season. He’s clearly an excellent shot blocker, as he’s averaged 1.8 blocks per game over his career. He’s also a good rebounder, as he’s averaged 7.3 rebounds in 27.4 minutes per game over his career.

He also does the little things well on defense too. He positions himself well, he contests shots aggressively, and he doesn’t foul too much.

3. Veteran Leadership
O’Neal has played in 90 postseason games in his career and has averaged 12 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game. He has played for six different NBA teams before the Warriors including the Portland Trailblazers, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and the Phoenix Suns.

After playing in the league for 17 seasons, O’Neal will definitely be a valuable veteran off the bench, and he can share his vast playoff experience with this young Warriors team. For example, he could provide some mentoring to Ezeli. His veteran perspective and leadership will be a great asset for this Warriors team.

Player Breakdown: What Toney Douglas Brings to the Golden State Warriors

This article was originally published on Let’s Go Warriors.

Photo courtesy of NBA.com

Photo courtesy of NBA.com

The Golden State Warriors have reached an agreement with point guard Toney Douglas. Although the exact terms of the deal are unknown at this point, it will most likely be a one-year deal.

Per 48 minutes last season, Douglas would have averaged 19.9 points, 5.6 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.6 steals on 40.3 percent shooting, 38 percent shooting from three, and 90.5 percent free-throw shooting.

The Warriors were in need of a backup point guard with the departure of Jarrett Jack. Douglas is a very different player than Jack is, but he will fit in nicely with this Warriors team.

First of all, he’s a quality defender. The 6-foot-2 guard has been known for his defense in his three years in the NBA. He’s quick, he gets deflections, he gets steals, and he strongly pressures the ball.

“(My mindset is) don’t let him feel comfortable, be physical with him and take on the challenge,” Douglas said about his approach on defense. “I like doing it because I know my capabilities. I’m a big, strong guard and I’m just as athletic, just as quick.”

Stephen Curry certainly knows how good of a defender Douglas is. In a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 6th, Douglas guarded Curry, the eight-leading scorer in the NBA at the time, and held him to 13 points on 3-for-11 shooting.

Second, Douglas is a pretty good three-point shooter. Last season, he shot 38.9 percent from three, matching a career-high. On March 17th, 2011, when Douglas was on the New York Knicks, he tied a Knicks’ franchise record with nine three-pointers made in one game. That night, he shot 9-for-12 from three-point range.

Third, Douglas is not necessarily a great shooter or passer, but he has a high basketball IQ. With the Kings last season, coach Keith Smart often turned to Douglas in crunch time situations because of his high level of expertise on defense and his understanding of situational basketball. He knows when to pass to his teammates and when to take the shot himself.

Lastly, Douglas is a hard worker and will provide veteran leadership to this team. Now that Nemanja Nedovic is expected to sign with the Warriors and play for them next season, Douglas could act as a mentor to him. Also, Douglas credits playing with Chauncey Billups on the Knicks as to why he puts so much effort into studying the game.

“I learned a lot from Chauncey Billups – he helped me out a lot when he was there – and then when he was hurt, I ended up starting,” Douglas said. “Playing with (Carmelo Anthony) and (Amar’e) Stoudemire (when I was) starting my second year really helped me, too.”

The addition of Douglas also gives Mark Jackson some flexibility in terms of what lineups he could use. Jackson could decide to sometimes play Douglas at point guard and slide Curry over to the shooting guard position, just like he did with Jack last year.

Douglas wasn’t acquired to be a primary scorer off the bench. He’s a solid defender, he’s a veteran, and he will provide solid minutes for the Warriors off the bench.