NBA Finals 2016 Game 6 Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers Preview, Predictions: Warriors May Use Death Lineup to Win
The Death Lineup Might Make or Break Game 6
A dilemma is brewing for the Golden State Warriors after a lackluster Game 5 in the NBA 2016 Finals and news of Andre Bogut exiting the court. After these unfortunate events, can the Golden State Warriors still win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6?
Warriors' 'Death Lineup' May Turn the Tides
The Golden State Warriors' success is due in part to their so-called "Death Lineup." Steve Kerr will have to make a tough decision on how to close the game for the Cavs in Game 6. Will the Warriors use the "Death Lineup" as a pace-changer or will they reserve it for the last remaining minutes in the finals' quarter?
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Knowing when to use their ace may turn the tides for the Golden Warriors. The unrelenting and hungry Cavaliers will figure out how to work around the "Death Lineup" if it's used early in the game. LeBron James and his teammates could find a way to explore the strategy midgame.
With Bogut out due to a knee injury, backup center Festus Ezeli will pay a big role. He will neutralize Tristan Thompson and hold the line for the remaining core players to recover and use their trump card to close out the game.
Ezeli-Iguodala a Winning Combination?
For the "Death Lineup," various player combinations will churn out different results. For instance, a lineup of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston and Ezeli is plus 38.4 in seven minutes in the finals while a lineup of Curry, Iguodala, Thompson, Ezeli and Green is a plus 44.8 in five minutes.
Together, Iguodala and Ezeli in the court is a 10.8 per 100 possession for the Golden State while it's a minus 23.1 per 100 possession with Ezeli on court and Iguodala on the bench. Perhaps, we'll be seeing a lot of the duo in the upcoming Game 6 to sustain the ground against the Cavs.
The most probable solution for the Golden State is to start with Ezeli in the first five and see if he can check Thompson. If there's no clear lead for the Warriors at the start, using the "Death Lineup" for 17 to 20 may help. However, it should not go beyond these times as the Cavs could easily adapt to the strategy once.
On the other hand, it is very likely as well that Tyronn Lue has already hatched a strategic plan to counter the "Death Lineup," which might surprise the fans this coming Game 6.
