The ugly reality of injuries is beginning to show just before the NBA Finals. After the conclusion of game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the main news was the injury that Kawhi Leonard, reigning defensive player of the year suffered in this match.
While this made headlines across the basketball world, later on, it was revealed that Leonard was not the only player that suffered an injury and may miss game two that takes place on Tuesday.
Iguodala will have an MRI scan
On Monday Andre Iguodala will have an MRI scan on his left knee. According to Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver, the injury Iguodala suffered is classified as a sore left knee.
Iguodala did not participate in warm-ups leading up to this matchup.
Ten minutes was the total amount of game time the swingman, received in Sunday's Western Conference Final 113-111 victory against the San Antonio Spurs. Iguodala will need to play a lot more than that if the Warriors have any chance in their likely Finals rematch against the Lebron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers.
Iguodala has been much healthier this season
Mercury News' Marcus Thompson II reported Iguodala himself confirmed that the MRI would take place on Monday and will most likely be absent from the Warriors' rotation in Tuesday's game 2.
Mike Brown who is currently filling in the vacant head coach role of Steve Kerr admitted that Iguodala looked a little hobbled during the first half which resulted in his benching.
During the 2015-16 season, 17 games were the total amount of games that Iguodala missed last season. This season Iguodala and has been a lot healthier as the Warriors aim for a third consecutive Western Conference championship. In the regular season, Iguodala played a total of 76 games and had averages of 7.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.
What will happen if Iguodala misses game time?
Iguodala has always contributed in a way that has never shown up on the stat sheet his primary role on this Warriors' team is a defensive player whose main goal is to lock down the opposing team's biggest perimeter threat. If Iguodala has an extended absence that makes him miss game time.
Coach Mike Boren might utilize a small ball lineup that includes the combination of Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Shaun Livingston and Stephen Curry, to try and minimize the impact of the absence of Iguodala.
Brown will more than likely hand Iguodala's rotation minutes to Matt Barnes and Ian Clark as the Warriors will need reinforcements on the perimeter in the case of an Iguodala's absence.
