The Appreciation Of Hilton Armstrong Just Another Sign Of Running Through That Brick Wall For Mark Jackson (Photo: San Francisco Chronicle)
ORACLE ARENA, OAKLAND, CA — Whether it was because Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson wanting starting power forward Draymond Green to avoid getting his third personal foul heading into halftime with 1:37 left in the second quarter, or that Jackson wanted to get Green an early rest, or that Jackson wanted to test another big man on Blake Griffin with a low-risk 62-40 lead, backup center Hilton Armstrong was grateful for the opportunity.
So grateful that he posted up on successive possessions and scored a hook shot, then a bank shot, both assisted by Stephen Curry, both one-on-one against Griffin.
The fifth-year veteran has only logged less than two minutes per game during this first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers, aside from the ten-minute performance in Game 2’s 40-point blowout.
The 6’11”, 235-lb center has been called up from the D-League Santa Cruz Warriors by Golden State on not one, not two, not three, but four occasions this season, finally signing a contract on April 8, 2014, that would guarantee him for the rest of the regular and post season, in light of Andrew Bogut‘s injury and indefinite status.
“I wasn’t expecting any plays or anything,” Armstrong told LetsGoWarriors.com after Sunday’s victory, “I was going in just to defend Blake. (Jackson) had confidence in me.”
After the game, not only did Jackson speak of Jermaine O’Neal‘s sacrifice in volunteering his starting spot to Draymond Green, but the Warriors head coach also made it a point to mention to media that Armstrong had been appreciative of the opportunity.
“I know I came up here not going to get too many minutes to begin with,” Armstrong said, “and to play in a situation like this. This is where every basketball player wants to play and I’m just trying to be very appreciative and humble about everything.”
As for Jackson pointing out his appreciation to the media, Armstrong was thankful and said, “It wasn’t necessary. I wasn’t doing it for the public or anything, just something personal between me and him.”
Just another testament to the fact that every player that dons a Golden State uniform seems willing to run through a brick wall for Coach Jackson.
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