Forget 'Splash Brothers' Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. If Golden State are to have a chance in the NBA playoffs, they need Australian Andrew Bogut healthy more than any other player.
So says three-time NBA Champion, member of the Chicago Bulls championship side from 1995-98 and fellow Australian Luc Longley.
"Without Andrew, they would really struggle," Longley said.
"He anchors their team defensively. I don't know what the stats are for plus/minus at the club but I'd put some good money on that his impact stats are the highest on the team. When he is on the floor, teams don't score."
That statement is a ringing endorsement for Bogut from a man who understands defence, but it's also true.
A look at Golden State's 2013/14 season says as much - Bogut suffered a broken rib before the playoffs and missed the entire post-season, which came down to a series against the LA Clippers in the first round.
The Clippers won in seven games with big men DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin dominating the glass and on the scoreboard while Bogut looked on.
Jordan is down on his average stats for the season for rebounds (15) and points (11) scored when he takes on the Warriors and Bogut when he scores 10.5 per game and averages 13 rebounds per game.
The reason is Bogut's ability to bang bodies with his opponents and Longley also thinks Bogut and his physical nature are made for the playoffs.
Bogut has been referred to as 'dirty' at times by sections of the US media for his body checks and use of his own 2.13 metre, 117kg frame to outmuscle opponents. However, come the post-season, that intimidation factor or mongrel will become vital as big teams such as the LA Clippers try to throw their weight around to get to small shooters Thompson and Curry.
"He has done a long apprenticeship for this," Longley said of Bogut.
"I don't think the finals will worry him. I think it will bring the best out of him.
"His physicality, it can't be overrated. It is incredibly important especially when you have guys on the perimeter who are the stars.
"Other teams will feel they can have a crack at those guys (Curry and Thompson) on back picks and things like that but - if they have a big dominant man like Andrew, who will back them up and not stand for that - it makes a difference.
"That gives the team morale and it's something every team needs to have. It's good that he's so ugly because an ugly star is better at intimidating than a pretty star."
Share
