Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 19 april 2018

Warriors’ Iguodala has a knack for big playoff performances

By JANIE McCAULEY from a major investment
AP Sports Writer last summer. Many feared
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — he might leave, but Iguo-
Andre Iguodala knocked dala received a $48 mil-
down another clutch lion, three-year contract
3-pointer and let out some to stay put and chase an-
rare emotion, triumphantly other championship. Even
reaching his arms out wide if he could have landed a
as he ran back to the de- bigger role elsewhere.
fensive end. The Golden “Well, we met with him and
State swingman had thrown we gave him our pitch and
down a spectacular alley- lots of money so we were
oop dunk only 31 seconds hoping he wasn’t going to
earlier, and he was feeling leave,” Kerr said. “I didn’t
it as the clocked ticked anticipate him leaving be-
away on a second straight cause he knows this is a
lopsided playoff win. great situation for him and
There’s something about we rewarded him for ev-
Iguodala in the postseason. erything he’s done and for
He paces himself through what we think he can do
the regular season to be for us. I think this year was a
fresh and ready — and Golden State Warriors’ Andre Iguodala celebrates a score against the San Antonio Spurs in the good example of that. A lot
sometimes dominant — on second half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Monday, April 16, 2018, in of people were grumbling
the big stage for the de- Oakland, Calif. Golden State won 116-101. about he’s not shooting
fending NBA champions. Associated Press the ball well or whatever.
“Everyone gets hyped starting lineup for Golden The Warriors will go for a “For us to be able to throw ... It’s the incredible de-
when Andre gets hyped State’s first-round series 3-0 lead Thursday when the Andre out there really 1 fense, amazing awareness,
because that’s a rare oc- against the Spurs, filling in best-of-seven series shifts to through 4 both offensively intelligence, leadership.”
currence,” teammate Klay for Stephen Curry as the San Antonio. and defensively, it’s an in- Iguodala keeps it simple,
Thompson said. “You might two-time MVP recovers At 34, Iguodala knows how credibly valuable weap- whether he’s in the lineup
see it on the golf course.” from a sprained left knee. to take care of himself over on,” coach Steve Kerr said. or coming off the bench:
It’s just what the short- That’s how versatile Iguo- the long grind of an NBA That’s when he has been “Just try to do whatever it
handed Warriors were hop- dala is: the 6-foot-6 swing- season, all to be prepared at his brilliant best for the takes to help the team get
ing to see. man can be inserted in to do whatever is asked of Warriors — and they are over the hump and get a
Iguodala is back in the place of a point guard. him in the playoffs. getting their money’s worth win.”
In 2015, Kerr moved Iguo-
Djokovic dala into the starting line-
up, and he became Finals
MVP as the franchise cap-
Continued from Page 17 Serving at 5-3 and 0-40, tured its first championship
Bedene saved the Span- in 40 years.
It was a real battle,” said iard’s third match point Golden State is hoping
Djokovic, who will next with an audacious drop for the same this spring.
face fifth-seeded Dominic shot. But it was only a brief Iguodala had only started
Thiem of Austria. reprieve, because Nadal seven times before Game
Hindered by a persistent took his next chance when 1 of the playoffs Saturday,
right elbow injury, Djokovic his Slovenian opponent when he had seven re-
says he is finally pain-free whipped a forehand into bounds, four assists and
for the first time in two the net. Nadal, who saved three points.
years — and a little rusty. two break points in the That’s after he missed four
“I could have won the fifth game of the match, of the final five regular sea-
match earlier definitely, is chasing a record-ex- son games with a sore left
but it was great to deal tending 11th title here. The In this Sunday April 8, 2018 file photo, Spain’s Rafael Nadal knee.
with these kinds of emo- top-ranked Spaniard next returns the ball to Germany’s Alexander Zverev during a “He’s definitely got to
tions again,” the 12-time faces big-serving Russian World Group quarterfinal Davis Cup tennis match between pace himself, the man’s
Grand Slam champion Karen Khachanov. Spain and Germany at the bullring in Valencia, Spain. played so much hoops in
said. “I’m obviously lack- “He serves big and has Associated Press the last 15 years,” Thomp-
ing that match play.” big shots from the base- They are on course to inic and Dominic’s tennis son said. “Andre is a gam-
To take some pressure off line,” said Nadal, who meet in the quarterfinals, to think about and talk er. He is going to step up in
his fragile elbow, Djokovic beat Khachanov in the but Djokovic isn’t getting about a matchup with the biggest moments, and
is using a lighter racket. third round at Wimbledon ahead of himself. Nadal.” Second-seeded right now it’s the playoffs.
“I made some small minor last year. “I have to play Thiem beat Djokovic in Marin Cilic of Croatia, the We have all the trust in the
changes that actually in an aggressive tennis, high straight sets in the French Australian Open runner- world for him, that’s why
our world are quite signifi- intensity. I need to make Open quarterfinals last up, had seven aces in a he’s a Finals MVP.”
cant,” he said. “It feels like him feel that he needs to year — including 6-0 in the 6-3, 7-6 (4) win against Fer- On Monday, Iguodala fin-
I gained more power, es- hit great shots for a long third — but Djokovic won nando Verdasco. ished with 14 points on 5-of-
pecially on the serve.” time.” Djokovic has won their other five meetings. In other matches, Kei 7 shooting with four 3-point-
Nadal had a much easier the title twice, including “He’s one of the top three Nishikori of Japan over- ers, seven rebounds, five
match but also struggled when he ended Nadal’s players in the world on came an early break to assists, a steal and a block.
to put the finishing touches 46-match winning streak clay,” Djokovic said. “It’s beat Daniil Medvedev of And he can guard
on his win. by winning the 2013 title. disrespectful toward Dom- Russia 7-5, 6-2.q
anybody.q