LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla – Lakers assistant Phil Handy and Miami Heat forward Andre Iguodala don’t know each other very well And yet, whenever the end of the NBA season comes, they always meet
Handy and Iguodala are the two men who have appeared in each of the last six NBA Finals – and they know the exclusive club they belong to
Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy gives instructions during a 2018 training session with Melbourne United in Melbourne, Australia (Photo by Graham Denholm / Getty Images)
“I have the utmost respect for Iguodala, man – as a competitor it’s an amazing thing he did,” Handy told the Southern California News Group “Absolutely, if I see ‘Dre in the hallway, I will congratulate him, because I personally do not take it for granted «
The fun part of their streak is that they were never on the same side: For four years they faced each other with Handy coaching for the Cleveland Cavaliers (the back half of LeBron James’ run to final eight right) and Iguodala playing for the Golden State Warriors Handy made a yearlong detour to Toronto in the 2019 Raptors title race against Iguodala and the Warriors
When Iguodala was in the trading market this season without playing for Memphis, Handy was among those on the Lakers camp who wanted to find a way to trade for him
“This dude is a savvy vet We tried to get him,” Handy said “I know we wanted him in MOON He just knows how to win, he makes the right pass, he communicates, he understands how to be a high level player He simply plugs in to fit any system to help his team win Guys like that are priceless »
Iguodala is at the end of his career at 36, and he’s just 4 averaging 2 points and 27 rebounds per game shooting at 36% of 3-point range in this playoffs But his defense is as valuable as any aspect he brings to the pitch, especially as a former MVP of the Finals based largely on his defense against James in 2015
His role has gradually diminished since those days, which is perhaps why he’s a little dismissive of his own achievement: Warriors were so heavily favored every year, he said, we got expected him to be in the final
« It wasn’t as big as maybe it was supposed to be for me, » he told SCNG « Maybe it should have been bigger, but it is just the way I’m wired, like, « Anyway, I did what I did, ‘What’s next on the basketball court, what’s next?’
But Iguodala actually appreciates how difficult it can be to make a finale and how important each role is.
“Most people won’t talk about it, because it’s not just about maximizing your star player, but maximizing everyone in the organization,” he said. acts the 10th player or the fifth coach, the trainee or the guy from the movie, like our guy (Heat video coordinator) Dan (Bisaccio) I speak every day All of these roles on the pitch have a direct effect on a team’s success And I think Phil has been fortunate to be in organizations that understand that and maximize what he brings to the table. »
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has many roles, but on Friday he described one of them as « parent »
His two seriously injured players, Goran Dragic (left plantar fascia tear) and Bam Adebayo (neck strain) begged to play in Game 2 Ultimately, Spoelstra cleared Adebayo on the active roster so he could communicate with his teammates on the ground without a mask, but none played.
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Meyers Leonard started in place of Adebayo, an All-Star, while Tyler Herro slipped into Dragic’s usual starting position and became the youngest player (20) to start in a final match of the NBA Dragic led the Heat in scoring this playoffs ahead of the finals
“These two guys are really amazing,” Spoelstra said “Like everyone in our locker room there’s a real special sense of brotherhood and responsibility They were both lobbying to play and we finally had to withdraw the decision for tonight »
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World News – United States – Phil Handy of the Lakers and Andre Iguodala of Heat Share Unusual Situation NBA Finals Link
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
