G-Nob
05-06-2013, 09:55 AM
San Antonio -- - Before practice Sunday morning, Andrew Bogut sat in a courtside seat - well, two seats - with his enormous frame dwarfing the chairs as he tied his*shoes.
He sauntered onto the AT&T Center court, dribbled between his legs twice and around his back once and then softly flipped the ball through the*hoop.
The Warriors haven't had a center of Bogut's size in years and haven't had a center couple that type of beef and grace in decades. That's a big reason they're in the Western Conference semifinals for only the second time in 22 seasons and a big reason they have a legitimate chance of making some noise against the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs.
"When you talk about playoff basketball, you're talking about a physical game," Warriors head coach Mark Jackson said. "You need an anchor on the defensive end. There are times when teams will trick you and go small and it may not be as important, but overall, to win it all, you've got to have someone in the middle to give you great*minutes.
"Does that guarantee success? No, but Andrew Bogut is a big-time defender and a big-time rebounder. That's something this organization has craved for a mighty long*time."
Bogut was one of only five players in the NBA who averaged more than two assists and 1.5 blocked shots this season, joining Tim Duncan, Marc Gasol, Joakim Noah and Josh Smith. The other Warriors to accomplish the feat were Ronny Turiaf (2008-09), Chris Webber (1993-94), Ralph Sampson (1987-88), Joe Barry Carroll (1987-88) and Nate Thurmond (1973-74).
Quality (playing)*time
Bogut was limited to 32 games this season as he recovered from arthroscopic and microfracture surgeries on his left ankle, and then developed back spasms. He averaged 8.2 points and 10.3 rebounds - numbers that don't jump off the page, but cause quite a bit of flipping through Golden State history to find similar*performances.
On March 13, he had 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots and three free throws - which hadn't been done since Troy Murphy posted the numbers in 2006. Adonal Foyle in 2001 was the last Warrior to put up 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots without committing a foul until Bogut did it March 27. You had to go to Chris Mullin in 1995 to find the last Warrior to record eight defensive rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots before Bogut put up those numbers against New Orleans on March*18.
The capper was Bogut's 14-point, 21-rebound and four-block performance in the Warriors' first-round-clinching victory over Denver on Thursday. Not since Larry Smith recorded 16 points and 23 rebounds in 1987 had a Warrior had 20 boards in a postseason*game.
"It was a statement game for him and this franchise," Jackson*said.
The shining moment followed day after day of darkness and month and month of*gloom.
Bogut gutted out the pain and stiffness from his ankle at the beginning of the season, playing four of the first five games before admitting that it wasn't going to work. He missed the next 38 games to continue his*rehab.
Cascade of*injuries
He managed to play eight of 11 games after returning Jan. 28, but his careful stride led to a protruding disk and painful back spasms that cost him six more games. Bogut appeared close to a full recovery at times while playing 19 consecutive games in March and April, but he developed a bone bruise on the ankle that kept him out for two of the regular season's final three*games.
"This season has been a nightmare for me, individually and personally," said Bogut, an imposing 7-foot, 260-pounder who gives way to an inner lyricist off the court. "There was no light at the end of the tunnel. It was pitch black for months. I questioned a lot of things personally. Mentally, I was in a pretty bad*place."
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Warriors-Bogut-will-be-key-against-Spurs-4490358.php#ixzz2SWZKLTr5
He sauntered onto the AT&T Center court, dribbled between his legs twice and around his back once and then softly flipped the ball through the*hoop.
The Warriors haven't had a center of Bogut's size in years and haven't had a center couple that type of beef and grace in decades. That's a big reason they're in the Western Conference semifinals for only the second time in 22 seasons and a big reason they have a legitimate chance of making some noise against the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs.
"When you talk about playoff basketball, you're talking about a physical game," Warriors head coach Mark Jackson said. "You need an anchor on the defensive end. There are times when teams will trick you and go small and it may not be as important, but overall, to win it all, you've got to have someone in the middle to give you great*minutes.
"Does that guarantee success? No, but Andrew Bogut is a big-time defender and a big-time rebounder. That's something this organization has craved for a mighty long*time."
Bogut was one of only five players in the NBA who averaged more than two assists and 1.5 blocked shots this season, joining Tim Duncan, Marc Gasol, Joakim Noah and Josh Smith. The other Warriors to accomplish the feat were Ronny Turiaf (2008-09), Chris Webber (1993-94), Ralph Sampson (1987-88), Joe Barry Carroll (1987-88) and Nate Thurmond (1973-74).
Quality (playing)*time
Bogut was limited to 32 games this season as he recovered from arthroscopic and microfracture surgeries on his left ankle, and then developed back spasms. He averaged 8.2 points and 10.3 rebounds - numbers that don't jump off the page, but cause quite a bit of flipping through Golden State history to find similar*performances.
On March 13, he had 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots and three free throws - which hadn't been done since Troy Murphy posted the numbers in 2006. Adonal Foyle in 2001 was the last Warrior to put up 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots without committing a foul until Bogut did it March 27. You had to go to Chris Mullin in 1995 to find the last Warrior to record eight defensive rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots before Bogut put up those numbers against New Orleans on March*18.
The capper was Bogut's 14-point, 21-rebound and four-block performance in the Warriors' first-round-clinching victory over Denver on Thursday. Not since Larry Smith recorded 16 points and 23 rebounds in 1987 had a Warrior had 20 boards in a postseason*game.
"It was a statement game for him and this franchise," Jackson*said.
The shining moment followed day after day of darkness and month and month of*gloom.
Bogut gutted out the pain and stiffness from his ankle at the beginning of the season, playing four of the first five games before admitting that it wasn't going to work. He missed the next 38 games to continue his*rehab.
Cascade of*injuries
He managed to play eight of 11 games after returning Jan. 28, but his careful stride led to a protruding disk and painful back spasms that cost him six more games. Bogut appeared close to a full recovery at times while playing 19 consecutive games in March and April, but he developed a bone bruise on the ankle that kept him out for two of the regular season's final three*games.
"This season has been a nightmare for me, individually and personally," said Bogut, an imposing 7-foot, 260-pounder who gives way to an inner lyricist off the court. "There was no light at the end of the tunnel. It was pitch black for months. I questioned a lot of things personally. Mentally, I was in a pretty bad*place."
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Warriors-Bogut-will-be-key-against-Spurs-4490358.php#ixzz2SWZKLTr5