Golden State Warriors: Shaun Livingston Is Team’s Stabilizing Force
The Golden State Warriors took the Memphis Grizzlies’ best shot in game six of the Western Conference Semifinals. Sure, the Warriors led wire-to-wire but this was not a cakewalk for the Dubs.
More from Golden State Warriors
- Warriors unlikely to draft Anthony Edwards due to character concerns
- Warriors: September minicamp mimics NBA bubble
- Warriors: Eric Paschall named to NBA All-Rookie first team
- Warriors reportedly eyeing a wing in the 2020 NBA Draft
- Warriors: Is the team destined to trade its No. 2 overall draft pick?
The Grizzlies used “Bully Ball,” as well as a little help from the guys in the striped shirts to wear down Golden State. The “Grind House” was rocking and the Warriors seemed unable to slow down Marc Gasol. Andrew Bogut was stuck to the bench in foul trouble and the lead was slipping away.
But these Warriors are resilient and have a never wavering confidence about them.
Amongst the starters, that wave of confidence and resiliency starts with “Mr. MVP”, Stephen Curry, and flows through the likes of Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
But when Steve Kerr calls on the “Bench Squad” to steady the ship and halt an opposition’s run, it is Shaun Livingston‘s number that usually gets the call.
Livingston has given the Warriors a reliable third guard that had been missing since Jarrett Jack departed the Bay Area.
Kerr has utilized Livingston’s multi-faceted skills in a variety of ways. The Warriors’ length and athleticism have been the primary reason for their defensive success, and Livingston embodies those qualities as much as any other player on the roster.
Live Feed
FanSided
The 6′ 7″ swingman has been a reliable low post option for Kerr all year and the Warriors have often utilized his dominance down low when their three point shooting goes south.
Such was the case in game six.
Marc Gasol led a slow and methodical comeback in the third quarter, sparked by the Warriors’ inability to knock down those three point daggers. Not to mention, their seeming inability to defend without hearing a referee whistle signaling another Warriors foul.
With the Splash Brothers going cold from the outside, and the Grizzlies flexing their muscle in the paint, Kerr called on Livingston to once again settle the troops.
This wasn’t the first time in the series Kerr has gone to Livingston to steal momentum away from Memphis.
In a recent Q and A with Tim Kawakami, of the Mercury News, Kerr explained how Livingston helped the Warriors turn the series around after finding themselves in a 2-1 hole.
"“I’ve played him a little bit more. I changed it up in Game 4, playing him earlier, getting him on the floor with Steph to try to take Steph off the ball some. He’s just played really aggressively and been very effective the last couple things.”"
In game six, Livingston once again proved to be that stabilizing force Steve Kerr had been relying on all year.
To truly evaluate Livingston’s imprint on the game, you can not solely rely on the stats in the box score. The basic numbers show he scored ten points on 4-for-6 shooting in 20 minutes on the floor.
At first glance, you may not be overly impressed but with Livingston timing is everything.
It seemed that all of Livingston’s points came in the most crucial moments.
They came at the precise moment when it seemed a Game 7 was unavoidable, and a chance at the Western Conference Finals could be slipping away.
Kerr repeatedly called Livingston’s number in the paint and it proved to be the right call. Every mid-range and turn-around baseline jumper seemed to find nothing but net.
Everyone will talk about Curry’s “Hail Mary” buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter as the moment the Warriors regained control of the game.
But it was Livingston’s clutch shooting and cool demeanor under pressure in those nerve-wracking moments that allowed the Warriors to overcome cold shooting and “questionable” foul calls that they seemed constantly on the wrong end of, to hold off Memphis.
The Warriors have proven all year to be more than just the “Splash Brothers”, and Shaun Livingston has proven to be more than just a “Sixth Man.” He has proven to be the stabilizing force in the most unstable moments.