NBA Finals Player Preview: Shaun Livingston
By Ian Levy
The Golden State Warriors like to go small but Shaun Livingston gives them one position where they don’t have to sacrifice size.
Overall, the Golden State Warriors are fairly small. Weighted by minutes played, the Warriors shooting guards are about an inch taller than average. In the frontcourt, they are an inch or more shorter than average at center and both forward positions, a product of their small ball lineups and the positional ubiquity of Draymond Green. At point guard, the Warriors are an inch and a half taller than average, thanks in large part to the back up point guard minutes played by the 6-7 Shaun Livingston.
Livingston is not featured in the infamous “Death Lineup” but as the Warriors start moving pieces in and out of the rotation to gain advantages in speed and shooting, Livingston is the one place where they can continue to hold a size advantage. Livingston has a polished post game, ranking in the 87th percentile in post-up scoring efficiency among all qualified players this season. His height allows him to see over the top of the defense to deliver passes, helps mitigate some of the rebounding disadvantages of small ball, and allows for all sorts of defensive cross-matching.
Livingston has had a quiet playoffs but really everything he does is quiet. Acting as a skeleton key in much the same way Green does, unlocking lineup combinations and unusual offensive possibilities, Livingston does it with subtlety instead of overt brashness. He ranks sixth in minutes played for Golden State during the playoffs and his importance is probably commensurate with his playing time. But the Warriors are beautiful patchwork quilt and it takes each and every square to make the whole.
At some point in this series, there is going to be a play that makes your jaw drop. Maybe a lob to Andrew Bogut, or a Klay Thompson rainbow from the corner, or some Stephen Curry shake-and-bake at the top of the key. Chances are it won’t be Livingston who knocks your socks off, but he’ll be the guy who makes the pass before the pass, or keeps the defender on the baseline with the threat of a cut.
You might not see Livingston but he’s there. Looking over the top, and seeing it all.
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