Eleven years ago, Andre Iguodala made the seemingly impossible: he made Mark Jackson look like a good basketball coach.
It turns out that it did not help Jackson, who had already burned enough bridges with Warriors that they fired him despite the back-to-back playoffs.
Jackson has never been hired as head coach again – perhaps because he could never convince Iguodala to accompany him.
Veteran Swingman stayed with Golden State, where his only presence helped Stephen Curry, Kyy Thompson, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green Post better number 2014 – his first year with Warriors – than they had the season before.
A year later, with the proverbial coach on the floor who helped a guy who had never been to the bench before, Steve Kerr and Warriors won an unlikely championship – the franchise first in 40 years.
In a rare moment of sensitivity, Iguodal MVP was chosen for the NBA final in 2015, although Thompson had suffocated Jr Smith, he had been outsourced by Curry, and he had been exaggerated at one end of Barnes and in the other by Green.
Everything Iguodala had done, the spearhead was a defense that held LeBron James to 39.8% shooting.
Oh, he also did all the little things, as you say. He went to curry. He covered Thompson defensively. He encouraged Barnes. And he kept green focused.
He was certainly MVP, and he was recognized as such.
In an era with 3-point shooting and what some would call soft basketball, NBA needs more Iguodalas. Fortunately, it already has one.
When Warriors planned Mavericks as opponents for Iguodala’s sweaters on Sunday, they did so to let Thompson share in the moment.
They never thought they would also give that opportunity for Iguodala’s mirror image.
Warriors was a lottery team led by a coach with an uncertain future when they shared four players and a first draft election to acquire Jimmy Butler from Heat earlier this month.
Five matches later, Kerr looks like a genius again, Curry has been rejuvenated. time.
All because of Butler.
After being banished for all except five matches since December 20, Butler has been Iguodala-like since joining The Summary Warriors.
He has received points – 102 points, second in the team to Curry’s 144 – and made it efficient and shot 45.5%.
He has recovered – 31 boards, just three fewer than coach Kevon Looney.
He has got the ball to move – 28 assists, just for Green’s 34.
He is defended – eight steals, third to Green’s 13 and Podziemskis 11.
The most important thing is that he has injected an aggressive mentality by example-to get to the free throw line 47 times (to make 41) and crash the offensive glass with a team-leading 19 returns.
All of a sudden curry shoots better (27-for-67 on 3-points), Green has rediscovered its all-round game (44 points, 24 returns, 34 assists, 13 steals, eight blocks) and Moody and Podziemski have silenced the testimonies that complained over to trade away valuable depth – combine for 135 points, 40 returns and 32 assists.
With four wins in five matches in the Butler era, Warriors has distanced himself from Spurs, passed Suns and Kings, and-with a victory on Sunday-would move within half a game from Dallas for location no. 8 in the Western Conference.
A top-sex finish, which guarantees a quay after the season, looks realistic. A fifth championship of 11 years?
Never underestimate iguodala … is, butler.
Actually, the confusion is understandable, although one has made its greatest impact on crime and the other on defense.
Iguodala is 6-foot-6, Butler 6-7. Both played for Warriors, 76ers and Heat. Both have been All-Stars and All-Defensive Selections.
And in the game’s 21st century version, who would have imagined this? Both will receive their numbers retired-possibly by several franchise services-trot that the worst 3-point shooters in their era.
At least they were smart enough to limit their attempts.
And get this:
Butler has played 844 career games and collected 4,513 returns.
In the first 844 matches in their career, Iguodala amounted to 4,606 returns.
The difference is negligible.
Butler has 3,622 assists; Iguodala, by game 844, had 3,947. Advantage: Push.
Butler has 1,358 steals; Iguodala had 1,413. You get the idea.
Butler has 373 blocks; Iguodala had 407.
Butler has shot 47.2% in total and 32.9% from 3; Iguodala was 46.2% and 33.3%.
Warriors will raise Iguodalas No. 9 on Sunday, but the Chase Center has a high roof with plenty of room for more banners.
Butler can get his No. 10 retired there one day. Meanwhile, he and Warrior’s fans can unlikely dreaming of anything else.
An eighth championship.
