Andre Iguodala will have his playoff moment for the Miami Heat in Game 5.
The Miami Heat traded Justise Winslow, albeit routinely injured in his tenure with the club, for a year and change’s worth of Andre Iguodala. They got Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill in that deal, yes, but the 2015 Finals MVP is the only one who’s under contract through next season.
Winslow was the pride of Heat Twitter and the organization’s entire fandom. He was a versatile point forward of sorts, averaging nine points 5.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in his five-year career. So you can imagine fans weren’t thrilled that the team traded him for a 36-year old veteran.
But Iguodala was the 2015 Finals MVP, is a longtime defensive stud, and has playoff experience and the IQ past anyone not named Udonis Haslem on this Miami Heat bench. So far though, the veteran forward has shown little to prove that he was worth the price of Winslow.
Ok, maybe that’s a stretch. But Iguodala hasn’t had that game or that moment yet in the postseason. I’m counting on that performance coming in Game 5 ain’t the Boston Celtics.
Iguodala’s best game in the playoffs thus far? Probably Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers where he notched five points, five rebounds, four steals, and a block in a series-clinching win for Miami. We saw proof he can still top nights like those from his play in the regular season.
Since we’ve seen the veteran play slightly injured with back spasms earlier in this series. But he looked fresh and very comfortable in Game 4, finishing with three points and three steals.
If things get thin for the Miami Heat in Game 5 on Friday night, look for some defensive expertise from Andre Iguodala. He’s overdue for his ‘playoff moment’ with his new team.