Fansided

5 reasons we shouldn’t award the 2019 NBA title to the Warriors quite yet

By Micah Wimmer

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 108-85 to win the 2018 NBA Finals. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 108-85 to win the 2018 NBA Finals. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 08: Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors warms up prior to Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 08: Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors warms up prior to Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

4. An aging Iguodala

Andre Iguodala, while only the fifth best player on the Warriors, is still among their most indispensable. He is a player whose instincts and veteran savvy are invaluable, who the Warriors can rely upon to always make the right pass and be in the right place, making the Death Lineup function much better than it would with a replacement level player. Iguodala is also a very good perimeter defender. While not as versatile as Draymond Green, he has long been called upon to guard the other team’s best wing.

The downside of all this is that Iguodala is 34 and just finished his 14th NBA season. His athleticism has faded and his effectiveness from 3 was particularly bad this year as he shot a career-low 28 percent. If Iguodala is no longer able to provide what he was capable of in previous years, then not only the infamous Death Lineup, but the effectiveness of the Warriors at large will suffer.

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