Golden State Warriors Roundtable: 5 Questions About NBA Playoffs
2. What will the playoff rotation be?
Mar 9, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (9) and guard Shaun Livingston (34) against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Warriors defeated the Suns 98-80. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Brendan Kennealy:
Stephen Curry (38 minutes)
Klay Thompson (36 min.)
Harrison Barnes (30 min.)
Draymond Green (35 min.)
Andrew Bogut (30 min.)
Andre Iguodala (30 min.)
David Lee (20 min.)
Shaun Livingston (18 min.)
Festus Ezeli (eight min.)
Nick Hjeltness: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Expect to see the same rotation we’ve seen for much of the season. Steph, Klay, Harrison, Draymond, and Bogut will start with Iguodala logging the most minutes off the bench. Livingston, Speights and Lee will see the most action outside of that, followed by Barbosa, Holiday and Ezeli.
Brian Banifatemi: Everybody always says that rotations shorten in the playoffs, and that will definitely prove to be true for this Warriors squad. Aside from the starting five, the only players that I really see getting significant minutes off the bench are Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala, with the occasional David Lee for offense and Festus Ezeli if Andrew Bogut happens to get in foul trouble early. Livingston fits well and will provide Steph Curry rest when he needs it, and Iguodala’s defensive presence will definitely be needed against the elite postseason teams.
Marc Grandi: The usual starting five (Curry, Thompson, Barnes, Draymond, Bogut) along with many minutes from Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston with Leandro Barbosa, Marreese Speights, Festus Ezeli, and David Lee filling in the few remaining holes. Steve Kerr and his staff will employ a tight playoff rotation not because of the bench’s weakness but because of the starters’ magnificence.
Angelo Mendoza: I see a playoff rotation that includes Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala and Festus Ezeli getting the most minutes off the bench with Marreese Speights and Leandro Barbosa coming in for offensive spurts if necessary. And by offensive spurts, I mean incredibly small spurts here and there. Brandon Rush, Justin Holiday, James Michael McAdoo and Ognjen Kuzmic probably won’t be seen that much.
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