Before 2016, the Golden State Warriors were sitting in the lounge at home. Many people hid their faces and hid their heads, unable to digest that they were experiencing the most tragic comeback defeat in NBA history.Andre IguodalaHe stood up first, not leaving, but turning to face the whole team. He wanted to say something to his teammates. According to some team officials, Iguodala almost never did this, and the entire team looked at him.
Andre Iguodala firmly told the team that the pain will heal. Iguodala mentioned that the San Antonio Spurs have never won consecutive championships. "If we can turn this failure into motivation, we can become a team that builds a dynasty, wash away this shame, and set a new benchmark."
In the morning before Game 5 of the 2017 championship game, the Golden State Warriors, who had almost a guaranteed chance of winning, still gathered all their members for their usual shooting training. Halfway through practice, head coach Steve Kerr appeared on the sidelines. He walked directly to Andre Iguodala and asked a simple question,
"Hey! How many minutes do you want to play this time?"
There are only a few hours left against the Cleveland Cavaliers. To be honest, Kerr's question is just a test. He doesn't want to sleep in the night anymore. He wants to win the gold cup in this game. He wants to find a sense of security. , Therefore, Kerr hopes that Iguodala, the most stable and experienced player in the team, can give him full confidence, just like in 2015.
"I can fight you for as long as you need."
"I'm already ready to go."
This was a subtle exchange between Iguodala and Kerr. It didn’t require too many words. From his eyes and body movements, Iguodala gave Kerr an impeccable sense of security. Iguodala also clearly understood how much Kerr needed him to step forward. .
A few hours later, Iguodala kept his promise and played one of the best games of his career. He held LeBron James on defense and made a flying dunk on offense. He inspired his teammates off the court and ignited the fans off the court. At the critical moment, Iguodala His figure is always at your beck and call,
"Andre was born for this. At the most critical moment, just watch him perform."
– by Draymond Green
In Game 5, Iguodala came off the bench and played a perfect 38 minutes and 7 seconds. He scored 20 points on 9 of 14 shots. When he was on the court, the Warriors could score 18 points more than the Cavaliers. Such a wonderful performance won Iguodala his second career championship.
But in fact, Iguodala seems to be confident, but the pressure is unimaginable to ordinary people. "I was under so much pressure in the last three to four weeks of the season that it was almost unbearable. After winning the championship, I told my wife, I'm sorry, this period of time is really hard." It’s very difficult.”
But the difference between good players and average players lies in their psychological quality. Iguodala has a unique ability. He can convert pressure into more outstanding on-court performance.
In the fifth game, Kerr compressed the rotation. Ian Clark and JaVale McGee, who originally had fixed playing time, did not play. Kerr put the time in the hands of Iguodala. This was the longest game that Iguodala played in half a year. However, to a certain extent, Iguodala performed more efficiently. "If you want to win the championship, sometimes you have to sacrifice so that everyone can get a chance, but sometimes you have to show desire, show ability at the right time, and prove I can still do it myself.”
If we talk about sacrifice, no one in the Warriors or even in the entire NBA can better represent the attitude of sacrificing the small and fulfilling the greater self than Iguodala. Before the start of the 2014-15 season, Kerr, who had just taken over as head coach of the Warriors, persuaded Iguodala to start from the bench. Although he was an All-Star, Iguodala agreed to this change. With this change, Kerr's experiment achieved unprecedented success, and the Warriors Not only did the team develop Green, Iguodala also transformed into the core of the second team, both of which were key reasons for winning the championship that year.
Not only that, Iguodala was the 2015 championship MVP, and most of his contributions came from successfully defending James. Iguodala has proven that no matter what role he plays or when he starts playing, he can bring huge contributions to the team.
However, if Kerr had not communicated with Iguodala, but with other main players of the Warriors, it is very likely that there would be cracks in the team, and not everyone, or the star players, would be willing to sacrifice playing time and space. But Iguodala is a player who sees the overall situation and is willing to do anything if it can help the team win.
The summer vacation of 2017 promptedKevin DurantAn important factor in joining the Warriors was seeing from Iguodala that the Warriors were a team-focused team. At that time, Iguodala also constantly emphasized that the Warriors were team-focused. Although the Warriors have gathered an impressive amount of talent after Kevin Durant joined, as a compromise, each star player does not have complete control over the stars of his team, and must make sacrifices in exchange for the team's victory. " But as long as we win, we don't care about our data at all. Andre Iguodala next to me is the best example. He goes all out in every play, but not for himself, but for the team. If everyone acts as a team Starting point, then we are running on the right path." Kevin Durant said at the post-game press conference in Game 5.
Although it was also for the team, what Iguodala told Durant was not sacrifice. "Since the playoffs, Andre has kept telling me that this is your stage, your battlefield, show yourself well." But Durant doesn't think so.
"I told him that I will express myself, but this is 'our' stage, 'our' battlefield."
In the final minutes of the game, the Warriors led by 14 points, and the championship was almost certain. Iguodala passed the final assist, and Durant received the pass and scored at the other end of the court. The excitement and ecstasy of winning the championship filled the court. But Iguodala reminded himself not to relax and save his emotions until the last moment before releasing them.
Durant recalled the scene and told Iguodala, "Man, we're going to win a championship."
For Durant, this is a new experience, but Iguodala is savoring this moment again, a moment full of anxiety and anticipation, the moment of winning the championship, letting all the joyful emotions vent.
"We made history, we are the strongest team in history, no one can deny it."
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