In the first three games of the series, the Warriors have matched up Jermaine O’Neal at center with the Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan.
While Warriors head coach Mark Jackson has hinted at potentially making a lineup change to go with a smaller starting group, there is no question that the veteran O’Neal will still see time on Jordan.
With Andrew Bogut (rib) sidelined, O’Neal is the only true center on the Warriors roster outside of recently added free agent Hilton Armstrong and is the only big man capable of matching him in terms of size.
However, throughout the series so far, Jordan has owned the paint. He’s averaging 15.0 rebounds per game, second in the NBA in the Playoffs so far and has five blocked shots in each game.
“If you allow him to be an athlete, he's going to disrupt it,” Jackson said of Jordan. “He does a great job of blocking shots and altering shots. We've got to go to his body and eliminate his athletic ability. Give him credit, but we certainly have to do a better job.”
O’Neal has proven capable of making a difference, too. He’s scored double figures in two of the three games, including 13 in Game 1 when the Warriors stole a game at Staples Center. He’s also been an instigator, playing physical inside and getting into it with Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, who coached O’Neal in Boston, in Game 2.
As for the potential lineup change that could shift O’Neal to the bench in favor of Draymond Green, Blake Griffin says the Clippers won’t likely adjust.
“We’ve had a lot of success with our lineup,” Griffin said Saturday. “We just have to play our game.”
Jordan vs. O’Neal Head-to-Head All-Time
Career Playoff Stats