Surprising Name Who Will Make a Big Impact for Golden State Warriors in 2015-16
The Golden State Warriors offer few surprises. Every piece on the roster has an established function, and it's difficult to disrupt the pecking order. But Festus Ezeli is chipping away, carving out an expanded role for himself in the process.
Three games into the season, Ezeli is already seeing more playing time than last year. He looks healthy, motivated and poised to have a big season. Getting to this point was no easy task, though.
The road back from injury has been tedious. Ezeli sat out 2013-14 following knee surgery, which is never an ideal scenario for a big man coming off an intriguing rookie campaign. He turned out to be a slow healer, and another injury setback had briefly sent him down to the NBA Development League last season.
He still managed to log 46 regular-season games and was a valuable contributor during the Warriors' path of destruction in the playoffs. Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley reiterates just how good Ezeli was at manning the middle last year: "His 6.2 block percentage tied All-Star Anthony Davis for sixth among players who made at least 41 appearances. Ezeli's 44.1 opponent's field-goal percentage at the rim also checked in sixth out of the 122 players who faced at least four such shots per game."
Ezeli is heading into his third season (excluding the one he missed), which is when a lot of players tend to make a leap. The circumstances appear to be in place for the center to do just that.
Increased Role and Motivation
Ezeli is in a unique situation. Andrew Bogut logged 23.6 minutes per game last season, and that number might drop slightly this year. Golden State's starting center has always been injury-prone, and Ezeli is the only player who can replicate the role.
Bogut is sidelined with a concussion, which has given Ezeli the opportunity to start three games already. He will have to split minutes once Bogut returns and take a backseat when the Dubs downsize with Draymond Green or Marreese Speights at the 5, but more minutes will be up for grabs.
The Warriors' infatuation with small ball does make the need for a traditional center less important. The Dubs are confident that no team in the league can punish those groups enough on defense to negate the invaluable perks of having five shooters on the floor. Still, they will likely be more selective with that in the regular season to limit the physical strain on Green.
Ezeli will also be a restricted free agent next summer, which provides a huge motivating factor. His market at this point is somewhat cloudy. On one hand, he is a slow-healing, injury-prone center who might not be worth a hefty investment. On the flip side, he is a traditional rim protector who has a good feel for the game.
The Warriors and Ezeli have reportedly not even discussed a contract extension, and both parties will ride the season out, per Yahoo's Marc J. Spears:
Even though Ezeli is expected to keep his options open, he doesn't seem opposed to sticking with the special group in Golden State on a long-term basis.
"I want to be here," Ezeli said, per John Shea of SFGate.com. "I love my teammates. I love the city. I love the fans. This is all I know. At the end of the day, my agent is going to negotiate and do what he does. If they come to an agreement, they do. That’s on them and my agent to negotiate."
The Warriors will face some tough financial questions next summer. Harrison Barnes will likely be on the hunt for a max deal, while a strong season might make Ezeli uncomfortably expensive for the Dubs. It helps his case that he is just 26, around the same age as the rest of Golden State's core.
Even if Golden State decides to pass on Ezeli, it's more than likely that some other team, amid the cap jump, will throw a hefty eight-figure deal his way. Almost every team in the league will have money to spend. The talent pool is bound to drain quickly, which will benefit guys who are lower in the NBA's food chain.
Good Stylistic Fit
Teams that scout Ezeli ahead of next summer's free agency will certainly find little nuggets in his game. He has shown several positive qualities that will contribute not only to his impending free agency but also to the Warriors' success this season.
Ezeli is similar to Bogut, although their physical skills differ. They both sag off on high pick-and-rolls, meet slashers at the basket and protect the rim. Bogut has superior defensive instincts, and his timing is impeccable. Ezeli is faster and significantly more athletic.
Ezeli's combination of speed and strength fits well with the Warriors' starters. He runs the floor a lot better than Bogut does, which he has shown plenty of times. Bogut isn't capable of sprinting back to his basket for a chase-down block in transition the way Ezeli does here:
The speed advantage is also clear on the other end. Take a look at this play:
Ezeli is the first Warrior down the court off a made basket here. Golden State finds a variety of ways to score in transition, but it's rarely a result of the designated center outrunning everyone else on the floor.
The Warriors' starting unit clicks effortlessly on both ends of the court. Even though Ezeli plays solid defense, it's clear when he is the odd man out with that group. Here is an example:
Green signals that he is giving up his man to help on the Houston Rockets' James Harden. Ezeli ignores that and struts to Clint Capela instead, oblivious to the wide-open Montrezl Harrell under the basket.
It takes time for a group of players to learn tendencies and communication patterns. It's only natural that mishaps like that happen. Ezeli should be able to weed out most of these issues as he spends more time with the starters.
Like Bogut, Ezeli doesn't have a dependable post game. Instead, he sets solid screens, moves the ball and relies on his teammates to find him under the basket. Once he catches the ball close to the rim, he goes up hard and finishes with conviction, forcing defenses to foul or surrender two points.
It's clear that Ezeli has adopted some of Bogut's tricks. Watch how Ezeli tip-toes on the edge of a foul as he fends off Stephen Curry's defender on some nifty split action:
Bogut is a master at riding that fine line, which allows him to get away with fouls on a regular basis. It's fun to see Ezeli following suit.
Bogut's passing prowess makes him great in the Warriors offense. The Dubs often slot him further away from the basket, which allows him to crack defenses by picking out teammates who are always in motion.
Ezeli won't shred defenses with pinpoint, behind-the-back passes to baseline cutters the way Bogut can, but he is good enough to not disrupt the offense too much. Watch Ezeli in this possession:
After setting the initial screen, Ezeli receives a pass at the free-throw line. Rather than stopping the ball, he instantly looks for the next man to move it to. Houston's Trevor Ariza does a good job of recovering to Klay Thompson after tagging Ezeli, so the Warriors reset with another side pick-and-roll. Since he is a dangerous finisher, Ezeli draws a double-team and eventually dishes to the open Curry in the left corner.
Ezeli is exactly what the Warriors need. He allows the team to go big when matchups make it necessary, without killing the offense.
Final Thoughts
Golden State thrives on its ability to field versatile two-way players in every position. That way the defense remains cutthroat while the offense continues to flow even in the absence of one or two starters.
The Warriors have so many scoring threats that Ezeli, just as Bogut, is not required to get points. Even so, it's a luxury to have a backup big man who can protect the rim while screening and moving the ball on offense.
The trust among the Warriors is already established. Roles are clear and embraced by each individual. All Ezeli must do is remain unselfish and play within the system. His performances won't be judged by box-score statistics, but that doesn't mean his efforts this season won't be greatly appreciated.
Ezeli is as healthy as ever. His game continues to mature, and he is on the brink of a highly impactful 2015-16 campaign.
You can follow me on Twitter: @VytisLasaitis
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