NBA Playoffs 2014: Andre Iguodala says Warriors are playing to save Mark Jackson’s job
By Josh Hill
It is no secret that the Golden State Warriors struggled mightily down the stretch of the season, as their second half was just abysmal at times and caused a lot of doubt about the future of Mark Jackson. The team began dumping fuel overboard in the form of assistant coaches late in the year, but after the Dubs thrilling 109-105 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, things are starting to change.
According to Diamond Leung of the San Jose Mercury News, Warriors veteran Andre Iguodala said that this run through the postseason is about more than just winning, it’s about saving Mark Jackson’s job as head coach.
While Golden State was firing assistants and shuffling around personnel, it was becoming a growing belief that head coach Mark Jackson was living on borrowed time and that his job was in serious jeopardy. That may very well still be the case, as it was a less than impressive showing by the Warriors in the second half of the season but a deep postseason run could absolve some sins of the regular season and save jobs on the coaching staff.
It’s too early to tell what Mark Jackson’s fate is, as the Dubs could lose their next four games and get bounced in the first round of the playoffs. But if there was the perception that the team was lost, Andre Iguodala has dashed that as it appears the Warriors are playing not for themselves but for their coach.