5 reasons Andrew Bogut injury changes NBA Finals

4. Death Lineup loses effectiveness.

How does Bogut’s NBA Finals absence effects a lineup that he doesn’t play a part in? While Bogut isn’t one of the five players in the Warriors’ Death Lineup (Curry, Thompson, Barnes, Iguodala, Green), not having him available to start or even play does limit that crucial crunch-time five’s overall effectiveness.

Golden State’s ability to go small and eviscerate opponents with their Death Lineup has been a huge reason behind the Warriors’ rapid ascension to NBA dominance over the last two years. Though the seven-foot Australian is too big to play in the Warriors’ magnificent up-tempo quintet, without him setting the table for that five with his skill set as a traditional NBA center, Golden State can’t sustain the pace it needs to crush its opponent.

While Bogut typically doesn’t play more than 20 minutes in any contest for the Warriors, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr will have to figure out who to allocate Bogut’s minutes to. The obvious solution would be to start the Death Lineup, but that puts immense strain on both Green and Iguodala.

Sure, Kerr could ask for more out of Festus Ezeli, Marreese Speights, or Anderson Varejao in the Warriors’ front court rotation, but it remains to be seen if any of those three big man can lay the necessary front court foundation for the Death Lineup to be at its most effective.

Next: 3. Cleveland will attack the rim viciously.