NBA Finals 2016: Andrew Bogut likely to be out for the Finals
The Golden State Warriors were dealt another blow in their defence of their NBA title as reports now suggest that their starting centre, Andrew Bogut is likely out for the rest of the season. The Australian big man suffered a knee injury in Game Five of the finals and had to be taken out of the game.
The blow to his knee, however, now looks to be serious. According to NBA.com’s David Aldridge, Bogut multiple bone bruises and is likely to be out for 6-8 weeks. Thus, ruling him out of the finals. The reports though also suggested that the Warriors’ centre will not require knee surgery for the same.
Hearing Andrew Bogut will not require surgery, but projected recovery time will take him out for rest of Finals.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) June 15, 2016
As @daldridgetnt reported earlier, Bogut will NOT require surgery. But the multiple bone bruises suffered will keep him out 6-to-8 weeks.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 15, 2016
The seven foot Bogut suffered the injury when he landed awkwardly on top of Cleveland’s JR Smith after blocking his efforts in the third quarter of Game 5 of the finals. Golden State originally announced that the centre had sprained his left knee and would not be returning for the game. However, now it looks that the Australian is set to miss the rest of the series.
This would certainly spice things up in the NBA Finals. Whilst the Cavaliers were unlucky last season to have both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love ruled out for the Finals last year, this time around it’s the Warriors who look to be having trouble with keeping personnel on the floor.
After seeing Draymond Green getting suspended for their last game, the reigning champions would now be without their starting centre for a much longer period of time. Moreover, it’s interesting to note that Bogut was in fact, shifted to the bench last year after the first four games (playing only 3 minutes in Game 4) by coach Steve Kerr after being ineffective in the first four game of the series. That resulted in Warriors going small with Green and Andre Iguodala playing the 5 and the 4 respectively with devastating effect.
The one true center who played in Game 6 last year was Ezeli: 10 points, 4 rebounds in 11 minutes off bench. Warriors could use that in '16.
— Carl Steward (@stewardsfolly) June 15, 2016
With Iguodala taking the floor, the Warriors ran away with the title last year in six games, giving birth to Warriors’ much effective small-ball line-up. Thus, it will certainly be interesting to see what Kerr opts for as he still has the option of going big with Festus Ezeli. Meanwhile, they still have options such as Marreese Speights, Anderson Varejao, and even James Michael McAdoo to fill in the big man minutes (which was roughly 12 per game).