Leandro Barbosa is the latest Warriors reserve to kill the Cavaliers
Barbosa gave Golden State critical minutes off the bench in Game 5, continuing a trend of one bench player stepping up in key moments for the Warriors.
Part of what makes the Warriors so good is their depth. How many other teams can dust off a former Sixth Man of the Year like Leandro Barbosa and have him play a major role in an NBA Finals win?
Barbosa was masterful in his limited time in Game 5, scoring 13 points in 17 minutes. He used his speed to help the Warriors push the ball and attack closeouts offensively.
"L.B. came in tonight and did what he was supposed to do and impacted the game on the offensive end and defensive end," Stephen Curry said, via ASAP Sports transcripts.
“Oh, L.B. was fantastic,” added Steve Kerr at the podium after the game. “He gives us 13 points and 17 minutes when we had a little foul trouble early on, and his defense was good. But not surprising, really. L.B. has been around a long time. He’s got a lot of playoff experience, and he’s had an excellent series for us.”
The second part of that quote may be hyperbole considering Barbosa had scored a total of 13 points in 33 minutes in the four games prior. Then again, Barbosa's impact has clearly been felt in other areas. In the 49 minutes he's played this series, the Warriors are outscoring the Cavaliers by 28.7 points per 100 possessions, per NBA.com.
“Steve Kerr did a great job when he put this team together,” Barbosa said postgame, via the San Jose Mercury News. “There’s too many weapons and everyone is not selfish. Everybody accepted their role. Every game you always have somebody stepping up. Tonight I had a great game. Thank you for my teammates that made things happen for me.”
That defines the key to the Warriors’ success. In Game 3, it was former All-Star David Lee who stepped in after barely playing in the Warriors’ other playoff games. In Game 4, it was Shaun Livingston. In Game 5, it was Barbosa.
Perhaps it’ll be someone else in Game 6. Maybe Andrew Bogut, who’s barely played since being removed from the starting lineup, will make a glorious return and serve as an answer to whatever adjustments David Blatt makes. Or, maybe Lee, Livingston and/or Barbosa come through again.
That’s the beauty of the Warriors. They have the league MVP, but they also have so many other players who can beat opponents on other nights. No other team has so many talented players they’re willing to use. That’s why the Warriors are one game from a title.
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