(Photo: LetsGoWarriors.com / Ryan Brown)
So much of the Golden State Warriors best game in nearly a month could be attributed to the return of their missing small forward, Andre Iguodala.
The Warriors defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 104-93, leading by as many as 26 late in the third quarter.
Iguodala, the former All-Star, hadn’t appeared in a game since injuring his hamstring November 22nd, and the Warriors had managed just a 4-8 record in his absence, tumbling out of the Western Conference’s top eight.
At least for one night, the Warriors recaptured the fantastic chemistry that had led them to an 8-3 start to begin the season, as fans hailed the return of the team’s biggest off-season acquisition.
Every time Iguodala touched the ball in his first game back he drew anticipatory breaths from the crowd, and his half-court alley-oop finish from might have been the team’s best moment of the night.
But while the Warriors’ energy was completely rejuvenated with the return of their swingman, his individual impact was hardly noticeable.
He scored just two points on 1-for-4 shooting and went without a rebound in 17 minutes. His most impressive play of the night didn’t go for any points.
After going behind the back and between the legs, Iguodala soared toward the rim, just narrowly missing a dunk that might have been NBA’s top highlight of the season had he connected:
As I wrote earlier in the week, his return signaled much needed rest for Stephen Curry, who played just 32 minutes on the night, even after being forced to return to the game by incompetent bench play.
The Warriors’ star had played less than 37 minutes just once since Iguodala’s injury, playing more than 40 minutes a game over a 12-game stretch.
Against the Pelicans, Curry played freer and easier, going for 28 points and 12 assists with just 3 turnovers on the night.
Much of that could be attributed to Iguodala, but the Warriors starting lineup was simply better all-around.
David Lee had one of his best games of the season with 21 points and 17 rebounds on 10-15 shooting, and Andrew Bogut went 4-for-5 en route to 8 points and 10 boards in only 20 minutes.
It’s the kind of basketball Warriors fans had grown accustomed to in the team’s dominant start to the season: strong defense and great passing.
While Iguodala wasn’t a huge factor on the court, his return signaled the beginning of the Warriors re-ascension to the top of the Western Conference.
Simply, his availability brought confidence and his presence brought composure to a Warrior lineup that had played inconsistently of late.
Poor starts had mired strong finishes, but Tuesday night it was the Warriors who started hot and they never looked back.
Despite a ho-hum statistical night, for many it was confirmation of Iguodala’s important role.
One undeniable fact: the Warriors simply looked like a different team with him in the lineup.
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