The critically acclaimed Hampton 5 lineup has been absolutely lethal in the 2017 NBA Finals.
The problem? The Warriors have barely used it.
In 17 minutes against the Cavaliers, the Steph Curry-Klay Thompson-Andre Iguodala-Kevin Durant-Draymond Green lineup has a ridiculous 141.7 Offensive Rating, a 69.4 Defensive Rating, equaling out to a 72.3 net rating (h/t to Shane Young). You couldn’t replicate that type of performance playing NBA 2K on your X-Box.
Meanwhile, the Warriors’ starting lineup (with Zaza Pachulia instead of Iguodala) has a net rating of -1.0. To ensure a fast start in Monday’s Game 5, shouldn’t Steve Kerr think about going with the Hampton lineup early in the game — or even startling Cleveland by unveiling it at the opening tip?
The rotation should be as tight as possible in a closeout game. Unnecessary minutes for Ian Clark and Patrick McCaw should cease. And if Iguodala has to borrow some of his playing time from David West or JaVale McGee, so be it.
“Every game is different,” Kerr said after practice on Sunday about playing the Hampton 5 lineup more often. “If we don’t have to go to that lineup, we don’t need to. If we’re winning and we want to stay big in order to handle the rebounding with (Tristan) Thompson, maybe we’ll stay with Zaza. If we’re down and we feel like we need to speed the pace up, maybe we’ll do that.”
Kerr isn’t one to try any crazy wrinkle, especially after the team’s first loss since April 11, especially since the Warriors still have a 3-1 series lead. Sticking to his plan has carried the Warriors farther in three seasons than even the most die-hard fan could ever imagine. It’s also harder to juggle lineups and who rests when than most of us realize. But that doesn’t mean he can’t figure out ways to squeeze more playing time for Iguodala.
After a so-so start to the playoffs that included his own shooting slump (3-for-27 from downtown against Portland, Utah and San Antonio) Iguodala’s been a prized possession in the NBA Finals. He somehow ended up being a +9 in Friday’s 19-point loss — the only Warrior with a positive rating. His strip on LeBron in Game 3 was as important as Kevin Durant’s pull-up 3. Rarely is Golden State playing poorly when he’s on the court.
This NBA Finals, Iguodala is averaging 25.8 minutes per game. In the NBA Finals he won the MVP back in 2015, he played 36.8 minutes per game. Come Monday, that number should be closer to 36 than it is 25.
“If the circumstances dictate it, we’ll play that lineup longer,” Kerr said. “It’s not a lineup I’ve played for more than 16, 18 minutes in any game, I would say, over the last few years. Maybe two years ago in The Finals we played Andre a little bit longer, but even that game we went big with David [Lee] and Festus Ezeli. So it’s not easy playing small for 40 minutes, especially against a good rebounding team.”
It’s been nauseating comparing this NBA Finals to the last one, and the 3-1 lead has magnified the stale storyline. Every player has been clear the entire game has changed because of Durant. He’s been an absolute savage, posting 34.3 points per game in his first championship appearance since 2012. If the Warriors win on Monday night, the MVP trophy will have his name engraved on it.
It’s even more foolish to compare this year’s title bout to 2015. The Cavaliers were without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Matthew Dellavedova was the team’s second best player in June. The Warriors were young puppies without the experience of winning it all — or the dread of choking
With that being said, the Warriors have ridden Iguodala in the starting lineup to win a championship before. It gives them entirely more defensive flexibility, especially on LeBron. It gives Golden State the floor spacing on offense to puncture Cleveland’s defense. And, if Durant can focus on Kevin Love defensively instead, it could open KD up to light the court on fire right from the get-go.
Sticking with Pachulia at center would show the Warriors are more concerned about countering the Cavaliers than they are about focusing on themselves. Zaza frustrated Thompson Durant and Draymond Green are both capable of boxing Thompson out.
Circumstances are different, but the elite defense and basketball IQ that Iguodala bring have not changed. It’s time to consider playing him a lot more in the most important game of the season.