At the end of game 6 in the NBA Finals, many people waited to watch the postgame trophy presentation. Both fans at home and even in Quicken Loans Arena hung around to see what would happen. For the most part, it was run of the mill. The Larry O’Brien trophy got presented to Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob, the team celebrated and then they just talked to a few more people. We all still held our breath wondering who would be named the NBA Finals MVP.
LeBron James appeared to be the favorite, followed by Stephen Curry and then it got a little messy, especially after Draymond Green put up a triple-double in the series clinching game. Then, there was Andre Iguodala. He set his season high in points in 2 separate games during the finals, also getting his first starts of the season beginning in game 4 when the Warriors were down 2-1.
Thanks to a Warrior assistant, Iggy was a starter again and he had the distinction of defending LeBron James. You can’t stop LeBron, you can only slow him down. LeBron proved that, over and over again averaging 36 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists in the NBA Finals.
Yet still, Andre Iguodala, against all odds, came up as the 2015 NBA Finals MVP. Expected by some but shocking to others, including Iguodala.
Following from Diamond Leung of Bay Area News Group.
Andre Iguodala to KNBR on Finals MVP: "I thought LeBron was going to get it."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) June 19, 2015
Iguodala’s value wasn’t defending LeBron James. He didn’t put the clamps on James and he didn’t stop LeBron from doing what he does best, get to the hoop and create for others. The defense on the ‘others’ was valuable. Iguodala did the change the game by allowing for another great wing defender to be on the court to help closeout on shooters and he also was able to knock down some shots and make some athletic plays.
But most valuable? To each their own but I don’t believe he should’ve won it.
LeBron was the most valuable in the finals. Take him off the Cavs, the series might have ended in 3 games just because the NBA felt bad for how lopsided the games were. LeBron had to do it all without 2 All-Stars, he had 2 Triple-Doubles in one NBA Finals series, he had 40+ points in a triple-double and he proved why he was the best player in the world. It wasn’t enough and the Warriors won and that could be a valid point to why LeBron didn’t win it, award it to the guy who won.
But even on his own team, Stephen Curry was more valuable. The numbers might not have scorched the earth like LeBron’s but his value to the offense is undeniable. He causes for the defense to focus on him and even when the defense does focus on him, he can still do amazing things and break a few ankles. Pick the guy who’s the most valuable.
Picking a guy who defended someone that averaged a near triple-double can’t be explained but somehow, out of a panel of 11 of the best national writers, 7 of them picked Iguodala, 4 picked LeBron and 0 picked Curry.
Once again, to each their own.
