OAKLAND, California (AP) — Mananatili sa bench si Golden State forward Andre Iguodala sa pagpalo ng Game One ng NBA Finals sa Huwebes (Biyernes sa Manila) bunsod nang ‘bone bruise’ sa kaliwang tuhod na nagpatahimik sa kanya sa nakalipas na apat na laro sa nakalipas na Western Conference finals.
Dagok sa depensa ng Warriors ang pagkawala ni Iguodala na pamoso sa paglimita sa opensa ni LeBron James ng Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ayon kay Golden State coach Steve Kerr, ilang players ang nasa line-uo niya para pabantayan si James, maglalaro sa ikawalong sunod na career Finals.
“He was MVP of the series in 2015, largely because he took that role on of guarding LeBron. But also because of what he did offensively,” sambit ni Kerr. “He’s doing a little bit better today. Some encouraging signs, but we have ruled him out for Game One. We’ve got lots of guys who can take on that job. It’s a group effort, anyway guarding LeBron. So, KD, Draymond (Green), Klay (Thompson), Shaun Livingston, they’ll all see time on him.”
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Ayon sa Warriors, patuloy ang ginagawang ‘treatment’ sa injury ni Iguodala, na nagtamo ng pinsala sa Game 3 ng conference finals kontra Houston Rockets nitong Mayo 20. Sa kasalukuyan, kinakitaan pa nang pamamaga sa kanyang napinsalang tuhod.
Kumpiyansa naman si Iguodala na kagyat na makababalik para makapag-ambag sa tangkang back-to-back championship ng Warriors.
“Just trying to figure out how to move in general,” sambit ni Iguodala.
“But making some progress. Slower than we expected but if you’re just being realistic it is what it is and it’ll be the time, if not longer.”
Bilang kapalit ni Iguodala si Kevon Looney.
Aminado ang Warriors na team effort ang kailangan para malimitahan hindi man mapigilan sa pagpuntos si James.
“What he brings to us on the defensive end will definitely be missed,” pahayag ni Draymond Green, patungkol sa presensiya ni Iguodala.
“But it just means other guys have got to step up. Other guys have done that thus far. The task gets even harder but I know guys will and it will be a collective effort in hopes that we keep trekking along until he’s ready to come back.”
Sa kabilang banda, nananatili pa ring alanganin na paglaruin si forward Kevin Love sa Cleveland matapos isailalim ng NBA sa ‘concussion protocol’. Nagtamo ng injury si Love nang mabangga sa ulo ni Jason Tatum sa Game Six ng Eastern Conference finals kontra Boston Celtics.
“He’s going to go do some things today and see how he feels,” pahayag ni Cavs coach Tyronn Lue, patungkol sa hindi pagdalo ni Love sa media conference sa Oracle Arena. “But he is in the protocol still, so we’ll see how he feels.”
Kapwa nagsagawa ng ensayo ang magkabilang panig sa Oracle nitong Miyerkules (Huwebes sa Manila) kung saam tangan ng Warriors ang 17-1 karta sa postseason.
Inamin naman ni James na malaki ang kakulangan sa depensa ni Warriors sa pagkawala ni Iguodala.
“First of all he has very, very quick hands,” pahayag ni James. “That doesn’t get talked about a lot, his ability to read and react to the ball either in flight or while you’re dribbling or when you pick the ball up.”
