Excellent defender must help Memphis minimize the splash
Swingman Andre Iguodala thinks that playing against New Orleans and game-changing defender Anthony Davis in the first round will serve the Warriors well.
“He forced us to do things we don’t normally do,” Iguodala said. “He forced us to make the extra pass, to have a counter. We had to go to Plan B, basically. We’ve got options 1, 2, 3 and 4, and we had to get to the second and third options.”
The future probably has arrived. The Warriors open their Western Conference semifinal series against Memphis and all-world defender Tony Allen on Sunday.
Though very different than Davis (who’s 6-foot-10, 220 pounds), Allen is a 6-4, 213pound guard/forward who likewise can be a force on defene.
“Tony is an excellent defender; obviously, one of the best in the league,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s particularly good on the ball. If we try to go one-on-one against him, he can make us really stagnant. If we try to run dribble handoffs against him, he’s going to get his hands in there. We have to move the ball, move bodies, set screens — otherwise, he’s going to cause havoc for us.”
With point guard Mike Conley’s playing status in question because of facial fractures, it’s unclear whom Allen will defend. It’s a certainty that he’ll make an impact whether he’s assigned to point guard Stephen Curry or shooting guard Klay Thompson.
Allen finished among the top seven in Defensive Player of the Year voting for the fourth time in the past five seasons. He was tops among guards in the balloting and second among wings to winner Kawhi Leonard of San Antonio.
According to SportVU data, Allen held opposing shooters to a field-goal percentage 7.5 percent lower than their usual proficiency during the regular season. He finished third in steals per game (2.0), first in steals per 48 minutes (3.8) and first in steals percentage (4.1) — the percent of opponents’ possessions that end in an Allen swipe.
“I respect him a ton,” said Warriors power forward Draymond Green, who finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. “He just goes out there and gets it done. He’s going to hound people. He’s going to play physical. He’s going to defend. He’s done it at a high level for years, and he continues to do it at a high level.”
Allen missed the Grizzlies’ third meeting with the Warriors this season because of a hamstring injury. The Warriors scored 111 points on 52.7 percent shooting from the floor and 54.2 percent shooting from three-point range in that victory.
In the two matchups that Allen played against the Warriors this season, the teams split the outcomes and the Warriors averaged 102.5 points on 42.2 percent shooting from the floor and 40.3 percent shooting from three-point range.
Allen calls it “shutting off the water.”
Iguodala thinks the “Splash Brothers” are prepared.