Warriors' Three-Peat Chances Could Come Down to Andre Iguodala's Hamstring

The Golden State Warriors were unable to overcome the absence of Kevin Durant in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, losing on the road to the Toronto Raptors by a final score of 118-109. And as if things weren't bad enough without the reigning Finals MVP at their disposal, another forward (and Finals MVP!) on the Dubs roster got bit by the injury bug in Andre Iguodala. Although his ailing hamstring isn't expected to keep him from action in Game 2, how he recovers in the next couple of days is crucial to Golden State's chances at winning a third straight tile.

Because if Iguodala can't hack it, there's simply nobody left to play his role.

Iggy hobbled off the court in the final minutes of last night's contest with a leg injury. He was clearly in pain, but its nothing that Andre can't handle, to hear him tell it.

“I’ll be all right. Just bumps and bruises of the game,” Iguodala said. “You can paint it as an excuse, but you have to keep going.”

- Andre Iguodala

The Warriors will need Iguodala to be as healthy as possible if they want to win this series knowing that Durant might not be back from his calf injury until Game 4. Golden State lacks forwards who can contribute on ends of the court -- no offense to Jonas Jerebko and Alfonzo McKinnie -- and Iggy has proven he can turn it on during the most important moments. His lock-down perimeter defense in the playoffs is a large part of the Warriors' success in the Steve Kerr era; that NBA Finals MVP honor in 2015 for his work against LeBron James wasn't an accident.

If Iguodala ends up not being able to take the floor looking like himself, Golden State's season is as good as done-- and perhaps its dynasty altogether.