Iguodala's defensive challenge: LeBron and Wade

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Friday, April 15, 2011
Posted: 12 p.m.

By Dei Lynam
CSNPhilly.com

Andre Iguodala will have rested his body a full week when he takes the court against the Heat in Game 1 of the playoffs Saturday in Miami. He is gearing up for arguably his most challenging defensive assignment of the year.

Whoever the Sixers opponent, Iguodala always draws that teams best offensive player. In the past, he has had success against the likes of Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony to name a few. But when it comes to the Heat, Iguodala must double his preparation.

He will start guarding the NBAs second leading scorer in LeBron James, but when Miami puts the ball in Dwyane Wades hands in the critical fourth quarter, look for Iguodala to switch and defend the leagues fourth leading scorer.

They are different dynamics at very high levels, Iguodala said. LeBron is a powerful quick guy. D-Wade is just a fast, quick guy. So they throw two different speeds at you at the highest of the highs. Having to guard both of them, you have to adjust a little bit but at the same time that is the fun of the game, knowing that you are playing against the best players you have to bring your A game. So, it should be a lot of fun.

In the last of three regular season meetings between the Sixers and Heat, guarding Wade and James did not look fun. Wade was held scoreless in the first quarter, but exploded for 19 points in the second. Then he shot just 1 for 7 in the third before dropping 18 points on the Sixers in the fourth.

Wades statistical line at games end on that March 25 night read 39 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and five blocked shots. Those numbers, amazingly, overshadowed LeBrons 32 points, 10 rebounds and three steals.

We are going to have to live with something, Lou Williams said after watching film of Miami. And weve decided that is going to be their outside shot. We just have to clog the paint and make those guys take long outside shots.

Neither Wade nor James shot many threes in the regular season -- they averaged six attempts combined per game. The twosome are disciplined when given space and determined to penetrate the paint, indicated by their combined 17 free throw attempts per game.

As if the numbers that Wade and James are capable of isnt enough to prepare for, the energy they play with turns impressive numbers into scary performances.

They are not just two of the most dynamic players, they are two of the most energetic players, Sixers head coach Doug Collins said. And they are two of the most well conditioned players. So we are going to have to be sharp and move guys around and a handful of guys are going to have to play them.

The Heat finished the regular season winning eight of their final 10 games for 58 total victories. The Wade, James, Chris Bosh trio no longer looks like three separate parts, but one cohesive unit playing off one another with ease.

Lately, the Sixers have appeared the opposite. With Iguodala and Williams sidelined with injuries (Iguodala resting and Williams out with a hamstring strain), shots have not fallen and energy has been low.

The mere presence of those guys back on the hardwood should serve as emotional inspiration, in addition the equivalent of a basketball B12 shot, especially when it comes to Iguodalas defense.

Weve missed him for a few games, and when you go back and look at tape, you realize some of the sins he covers up just by being out there, Collins said. Not only is he smart but he can cover a lot of ground. I do think he knows how important it is, especially when you have to take on one of those guys. He will guard LeBron some and then he has to guard Wade later in the game, but that is Dre at his best -- when he does those kind of things he gives us a chance to have some success.

Of course, the minute Collins slides Iguodala to cover Wade he needs another body to cover LeBron. There is no easy answer, thats for sure.

It could be Evan Turner if he is playing well, Andres Nocioni may have to guard him some, Collins said. Thaddeus Young may also take his turn at James when Bosh slides to the center position and LeBron plays the power forward.

Iguodala is often maligned for not being the superstar his 82 million dollar contract suggest he should be in the eyes of many. He accepts the criticism and takes the taunting from fans at games and on the street.

It is obvious, though, how much the Sixers miss him when he is sidelined. Iguodala says thats a Catch-22.

The sad part is that may be the only time they realize it, but I never want to leave my teammates out there to prove a point, Iguodala explained. Everyone on our team knows that each piece is valuable. For instance, if the point guard goes down, we are going to have to make up for it. I try to bring a whole lot to the table and when I am not out there they miss it, so I am just looking forward to getting back out there and helping my guys out.

All the talk is about what the Sixers need to do defensively to slow the star-studded Heat, but they also need to score points and keep their turnovers low. Three of the five starters have never played in a playoff game, including point guard Jrue Holiday.

So much rides on a teams point guard ability to handle pressure. Holiday has handled pressure just fine all season long, but the atmosphere is about to changedrastically.

Again, Iguodala can answer the bell and play his point-forward role early, as opposed to waiting late, in the game as he did often in the regular season.

We have been watching a lot of film and they trap me a lot, Iguodala said. There are a few things we can do to counter that to get Jrue involved and help him attack so he wont have to do too much and still get him involved where he can make plays and not have to make the home run play.

Collins is so impressed by the 20-year-old Holiday that he worries very little about him falling prey to the playoff pressures.

The one thing that happens when you are in an environment like this is that you get sped up and start going too fast, Collins said. Usually your point guard dictates that. But I am not worried about Jrue. Hes from Hollywood he likes these kind of moments.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com

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