Steve Kerr’s decision to start a small lineup with Draymond Green at center in Game 4 of the 2015 NBA Finals changed the course of the series, and gave Golden State a “death lineup” that would terrorize the rest of the league during the 2015-16 season. Following the departure of Harrison Barnes, the Warriors trotted out a modified version with Kevin Durant — dubbed the Hamptons 5 — in 2016-17, giving them an even more dynamic unit that when clicking, was nearly impossible to guard.
Marcus Thompson of The Athletic thinks another tweak to the small lineup may be on the horizion, and that dynamic rookie Jordan Bell may take the place of Andre Iguodala in crunch time this postseason.
“I think so, I do,” Thompson said when asked by Guy Haberman if Bell would hypothetically be on the floor in the last five minutes of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. “They’ve been going with that Hampton’s 5 unit, but I almost feel like the league has caught up a little bit on it, and also I think Andre Iguodala’s shot is not the same, so if he’s not hitting his shot, the lineup’s kind’ve not as effective, because he’s going to be the open guy.”
In his previous four seasons with the Warriors, Iguodala shot a combined 35.4 percent from beyond the arc. This season, he’s shooting a paltry 24.1 percent, and has seen his real plus-minus numbers plummet from 3.53 (best among NBA reserves) to -0.79 (210th in the league). Bell on the other hand is ranked 39th in the league in real-plus minus during his first NBA season.
“I think Jordan Bell gives them the option of having a version of that Hampton’s 5, which is basically a small lineup with all threats, but he can play center,” Thompson continued. “What teams are doing is they’re putting a smaller guy like a LeBron on Draymond, and it kind’ve negates the advantage. It’s just like Draymond is playing power forward. The advantage was you had your center out there and he was on Draymond, or maybe you switch and have your center on Iguodala, because he can’t keep up with Draymond, and it creates these weird matchups, but I think now people have just figured out how to attack it, and if Iguodala is not hitting his shot it’s just not the same.
“So I can see a situation where it’s ‘alright let’s scrap that, let’s do a new one.’ They’re going to basically run the death lineup like they did before Durant when it was Barnes and Draymond at the 4/5. Now it’s Bell and Draymond at the 4/5, because Jordan Bell is the best athlete on the team without question. He can run with anybody, he’s just as fast. He’s not as skilled but man, if he gets any semblance of a midrange jumper, it’s over.”
Listen to the full interview below. To hear Thompson’s comments on Bell, skip to the five minute mark.