OAKLAND–The Warriors took care of business on Monday night, winning their seventh straight game by a double digit margin as they downed the Orlando Magic 110-100.
But although Golden State rolled to another easy victory, the Warriors looked different doing so.
With Steph Curry sidelined due to a right quad contusion, the Warriors were down one of the game’s transcendent offensive players, and the key to their entire offensive operation. Though Golden State still has three other All-Star caliber players in its starting lineup, the offensive game plan was obviously different on Monday against the Magic, and Curry’s replacement, Shaun Livingston, didn’t mind admitting as much.
“Anytime you’re kind of thrown into the starting lineup, one it means Steph’s out so we’re missing about 25 to 50 points per game depending on what he does,” Livingston said. “So it’s just really about being aggressive, it’s a mindset. Obviously it’s a different type of game. Our team identity changes, so it’s really trying to move the ball. Play inside out a little bit more, get stops and it’s obviously going to be more of a grind it out type of a game. But just being aggressive and hopefully it will open up some shots and things for the teammates.”
Livingston is one of the league’s best backup point guards, a leader of the Warriors’ second unit who is akin to a great change of pace running back in the NFL. While Livingston doesn’t play with the same style as Curry, the different skill set he provides Golden State with is disruptive to opposing defenses.
On Monday, Livingston said he knows it’s challenging for Warriors fans to stomach a game without Curry’s offensive theatrics, but in the long run, he thinks the team’s victory over the Magic is the type of exercise that will pay dividends in the long run.
“Absolutely, absolutely, this is good for us honestly,” Livingston said. “It probably sucks for the fans because they want to see Steph and I get it. For a team from a basketball perspective, this is actually good for us. You get guys like Andre starting, getting a chance to get some reps up, play some minutes and look for his scoring so he can be more aggressive. All the way down and like I said, I think this is a good thing for us as we go along in the season. It can pay dividends in the playoffs.”
Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr pointed to Curry’s absence in the playoffs two years ago as a prime example of the tremendous value Livingston provides for Golden State, and though the veteran guard typically comes off the bench, he’s certainly capable of playing a high volume of minutes and mixing in with the starting lineup.
After the game, Kerr offered high praise for one of his most cherished reserves, pointing to Livingston’s team-first approach as one of the many reasons for his continued success.
“Shaun is an unbelievable luxury to have,” Kerr said. “This is a guy who was heading for an All-Star career before the devastating injury and it’s amazing how he’s remade himself since that injury and since he’s been here. He’s been such a huge part of our team on and off the floor. He’s one of the most mature people I’ve been around in the league, a great teammate, a hard worker, incredible basketball IQ. For us to just be able to play him when Steph is out is I guess an incredible luxury. Shaun was great tonight, but not at all surprising to me because that’s what he’s been doing for three years.”
