The Golden State Warriors will be forced to make adjustments for the second straight game of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Prior to Game 5 they had to mask the absence of Draymond Green, but now for Game 6 they won’t have Andrew Bogut, who will miss the reminder of the Finals after suffering a knee sprain during Monday’s loss against the Cavaliers at Oracle Arena.
It’s not the ideal scenario for coach Steve Kerr who relies heavily on Bogut on the defensive end of the floor. The Australian might not be a threat on offense, but he contributes on the glass, setting up screens and protecting the rim. His loss is going to be a tough one for the Warriors.
Golden State, however, will get Draymond Green back. The runner-up for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award was greatly missed in Game 5, and there’s no doubt the Warriors are a better team when Green is on the floor. He’s an impact player on both ends of the court, and he is battling head-to-head with LeBron James to see who will be the MVP of the Finals once it’s all said and done. Green has averaged 14.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists through the course of the series, and he’s also the center of the small-ball lineup. In his case, numbers don’t tell the whole story, and his presence will be a huge boost for Golden State.
How can the Warriors adjust to Bogut’s absence? Kerr could go the easy route and trot his death lineup from the beginning, playing Green at center and sliding Andre Iguodala to play at small forward with Harrison Barnes at the four. The other option is to start an unproven player James McAdoo – something not likely to happen – or play Anderson Varejao. The Brazilian – who started the season with Cleveland – can offer a similar skill-set to the one Bogut possesses, and he’s also a constant source of energy for his teammates.
Kerr will have a tough choice to make, and he needs to make the right call this time. With the Cavaliers down 2-3, a win at Quicken Loans Arena would force a decisive Game 7, and even though the Warriors would be at home, all the momentum would be on Cleveland’s side.
It’s safe to say the future of these series lies on Steve Kerr’s hands. Will he be up to the task? We will certainly find out on Thursday night.