Andrew Bogut is currently the starting center for the Warriors. That’s cool, and it brings a connection to the older days of Warriors basketball when Kevin Durant wasn’t around being an iso chucker, which is something that almost everybody can appreciate. But I don’t really see the point in playing him only a few minutes and then having him sit for the whole rest of the game. At the 8:24 mark of the first quarter, Kevon Looney came in for him, and that was the last we saw of him. Did they think that he wouldn’t match up well with Meyers Leonard? Because as funny as that sounds, it would probably be true.
Might as well start Looney at this point. You lose some of the intangibles that Bogut brings, like passing (that’s actually more of a “tangible” but whatever) and general basketball IQ (a horrible concept but I think it applies here). But what you gain is someone who can still move around the basketball court (though not as well as you’d expect from a guy who’s 23) and finish lobs (though not as well as you’d expect from a guy who’s 23). I’m too lazy to look, but I’m sure Looney has great defensive metrics as well. He has too, right? Because he sucks on offense too much to not bring significant value on the other end. Ignore these 14 points. Just ignore them. They don’t fit my narrative.
Actually, I changed my mind. No starting Looney. He can come off the bench like he has for most of the season. You know where I’m going here: Damian Jones. He was the starter at the start of the season (so long ago…) until he got injured and was declared out for the season. Normally players who are out for the season don’t get to start playoff games, but apparently he’s okay now, because he’s gotten a tiny amount of run the last two games. That’s all I needed to see: start the man.