Caruso s role in the Thunder is like Igudara of the Warriors back then, and she is very strong

On June 11, in the history of the NBA, there are always some players who are not the team's signature stars, but they play a crucial role in the road to championship. The Warriors' Andre Igudara in 2015 is the most classic example - this veteran who is good at defense successfully restricted LeBron James in the finals and eventually won the FMVP. Ten years later, Oklahoma City Thunder's Alex Caruso is becoming the "invisible engine" for the youth army to strive for the championship with an amazingly similar trajectory.

From a data perspective, Caruso's performance of only 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in the regular season this season seems dull, but the high-level data reveals his irreplaceable value. When he was on the court, the Thunder beat their opponents by 11.3 points per 100 rounds, ranking third in the team, second only to MVP candidates Alexander and Homgren. What's even more amazing is the defensive contribution. Caruso suppressed his opponent's shooting percentage at 41.7%, and his three-point shooting percentage was as low as 32.1%. Both of these data rank among the top outside defenders in the league. This "influence that cannot be fully reflected in the data" is exactly the same as Igudara's situation with the Warriors back then.

After an in-depth analysis of Caruso's technical characteristics, you will find that he perfectly fits modern basketball's ultimate imagination of "3D+" players. The height of 1.96 meters and the arm span of 2.04 gave him the innate capital to defend from No. 1 to No. 4. In the Thunder's defensive system, he is not only the first iron gate on the periphery, but also can switch to the inside line at any time. This all-round attribute allows head coach Dai Gnot to be at ease when deploying troops. Although his ability to hold the ball on the offensive end is not outstanding, his 39.5% three-point shooting percentage (a career high) makes him a reliable fixed-point shooter. What's even more rare is that he averages 2.7 screening assists per game, ranks second in the defender. This team-style play that does not take the ball is perfectly released Alexander's offensive firepower.

Comparing with Igudara's transformation of the Warriors in 2015, Caruso brought about a significant qualitative change to the Thunder. When the Warriors were behind 1-2 in the finals, Coach Kohl decisively changed the lineup and raised Igudala to the start, thus opening the prelude to three consecutive victories. This season, the Thunder exchanged for Caruso before the trading deadline, and their record jumped from third in the Western Conference to first in the final Western Conference, and their defensive efficiency soared from eighth in the league to second. Especially in the playoffs, Caruso's restrictions on super scorers such as Doncic and Edwards have become the key to the Thunder's continuous defeat of strong opponents. This "immediately improves the team's ceiling when it comes" is the most precious value of top-level role players.

From a tactical perspective, Caruso's existence has enabled the Thunder's "five foreign lineups" to truly achieve an integrated offense and defense. When he was on the court with Alexander, Javier, Dort and Homgren at the same time, the Thunder beat their opponents to an astonishing 18.7 points per 100 rounds. This lineup not only maintains the ability to pull space, but also achieves unlimited defense switching. Its flexibility is a tactical example of contemporary basketball. Caruso is like lubricant in it, which can not only protect the basket when Homgren is transferred out of the penalty area, but also accurately find open teammates when Alexander encounters double-teaming. This all-round performance reminds me of Igdala's role as a hub among the Warriors "Death Five Smalls".

Psychologically, Caruso injected precious champion DNA into this young army with an average age of only 23.4 years old. As a member of the 2020 Lakers championship, he knows how to stay calm on the highest stage. In the Western Conference semi-finals, when the young Thunder player was in a panic away game, it was Caruso who made two key three-pointers in a row to stabilize the morale. This calmness in this big scene is very similar to the role of "Dinghai Shenzhen" played by Igdala in the Warriors locker room.

If the Thunder finally wins the championship, the ownership of FMVP will become an interesting topic. Although Alexander is the biggest hit as a star, if there is a situation similar to Curry's data prevailing but losing the award in 2015, Caruso may indeed replicate an Igdala-like counterattack. Especially when facing opponents like the Celtics with double-Tanhua, Caruso's defensive effect against Tatum or Brown may directly determine the direction of the series. Historical experience shows that when super scorers face strict precautions (such as James in 2015), judges often turn their attention to defensive experts who "change the balance of the game."

From the perspective of team building, Caruso's value is also reflected in salary cost-effectiveness. This season's annual salary of $8.42 million is only seventh among the Thunder, but the output far exceeds the contract's contribution. This high-quality contract is crucial for championship teams with tight salary space, just like Igudara's contract with the Warriors, retaining the flexibility to continuously strengthen the team. Considering that he only partially guaranteed contract next season, the Thunder management undoubtedly made a great deal comparable to the Warriors' signing of Igdala.

Basketball experts have long noticed this similarity. Sports Illustrated reporter Robin Luntin pointed out: "Caruso is like installing a voltage regulator on the Thunder. When young players are fantastic, they can always bring the game back to the right track. "This is almost the same as the media's argument that Igdala "has a solid foundation for the Warriors' gorgeous basketball." Even the opponent gave high praise. Mavericks coach Kidd admitted after the Western Conference semi-finals: "Caruso changed the Thunder's defensive temperament, and he made a group of excellent individuals truly a system. "

Of course, to perfectly reproduce the Igdala-style legend, Caruso still needs to leave a decisive performance on the finals stage. But all signs indicate that the 30-year-old defensive expert is at his best in his career. His true plus-negative value (RPM) ranks 14th in the league, even surpassing many All-Star players. More importantly, his leadership in the locker room is gathering the team - just like Igudara organized Warriors players to watch "The Super Marines" to ease tension ten years ago, Caruso is also shaping the Thunder's championship culture in his own unique way..

From a more macro-level basketball philosophy perspective, the Caruso phenomenon confirms the eternal value of team basketball. In this era of advocating personal data, he reminds us that the most authentic charm of basketball - those defensive positions, passing choices, and running without the ball that cannot be fully quantified are often the key to determining the title. Just as Igudara redefined the value of a role player back then, Caruso is writing his own chapter, and this may be the most moving inheritance of basketball.