Andre Iguodala locked down LeBron James when it mattered most

It started at the end of the third quarter.

With the frame coming to a close, Golden State Warriors super-sub Andre Iguodala battled around a high screen by Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson and picked LeBron James's pocket.

Iguodala then raced down the court to throw down a buzzer-beating dunk. His play tied the game and brought the Oracle Arena to its feet.

It was only a hint of things to come.

Let's just be clear about this: nobody shut down LeBron. That simply isn't possible. He dropped 44 points against the best defense in the league.

But if anyone slowed James, it was Iguodala, who took on the impossible assignment of guarding the Cavaliers' star player in the fourth quarter and overtime and somehow managed to keep James in check.

James scored 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting in the final 15 minutes of the game, but he shot just 3-of-8 when checked by Iguodala. Those three baskets were a tough fadeaway in the paint, a contested pull-up three and a meaningless basket before the final buzzer sounded. On account of his defense, Iguodala was the unsung hero.

Stopping James starts with taking away the paint where he is most dangerous.

The Warriors did a poor job of this early on. James eviscerated the Warriors in the post. Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson did their best, but James managed to get to whatever spot he wanted to uncork his dangerous hook shot.

Iguodala, who is stronger than both Barnes and Thompson, managed to keep James away from his hook. He used his strength and positioning to take away the middle and pushed James towards the baseline, cutting down on James's access to the hoop.

Iguodala's resiliency forced James into launching a tough midrange fadeaway with the score tied late in the fourth.

(courtesy: ESPN)

Frustrated by Iguodala's physicality, James tried to attack in pick-and-roll instead. James screened for the ball, triggering switches by the Warriors' defense. The ploy was to shed Iguodala and it worked. James scored three of his five fourth-quarter baskets when switched onto Thompson.

But Iguodala came through when it mattered most. With a golden opportunity to steal Game 1 from the Warriors to end regulation, the Cavaliers again tried to coax a switch for James but Iguodala fought through a down screen by Iman Shumpert. He then forced James into an extremely well-contested jumper.

By the time overtime rolled around, James was clearly spent. Without the strength to move mountains in the paint, James faded as the Warriors pulled away. Golden State nearly pitched a shutout in overtime before taking Game 1.

The final results for Iguodala's defense against James were astounding.

Iguodala's work also drew the praise of head coach Steve Kerr. Not one for hyperbole, Kerr (who once played alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen) raved about Iguodala.