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Tribune News Service
Tribune News Service
Sport
Melissa Rohlin

Warriors' Draymond Green on having five techs: 'I've got two to play with for one game'

CLEVELAND _ Draymond Green isn't at all concerned that he has five technical fouls this postseason, just two shy of receiving an automatic one-game suspension.

To him, that means he has wiggle room.

"The way I'm approaching it, there's one game left," Green said. "So I've got two to play with for one game."

The Warriors have a 3-0 lead over Cleveland in The Finals. No team in NBA history that trailed 3-0 has ever won a seven-game series.

There could be one game left _ or four. But heading into a potential series-clinching Game 4 on Friday, Green said he isn't going to try and scale himself back at all.

"I'm still going to be who I am," Green said. "That's what has made me the player that I am. No one tech is going to stop that. If I'm going to let one tech stop that, I might as well hit the sack and go sit in the locker room."

Green and Tristan Thompson were assessed double-technicals midway through the first quarter of the Warriors' 110-102 win in Game 3 on Wednesday after they jawed at each other.

Thompson, similarly, has no regrets about going at it with Green.

"It's The Finals," Thompson said. "Two guys both want it and I love it. I love the physicality. I love the two techs. It's well worth it, and that's what we need. So that's what I try to bring to this team, give it a little spark and energy."

Those two have been going back and forth all series long. With 2.6 seconds left in Game 1, Thompson was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul for elbowing Shaun Livingston. Green clapped. Thompson responded by shoving a basketball in Green's face.

After Thompson was ejected, he told Green to meet him outside. He went on to say that if any two players are going to fight, it's going to be him and Green.

On Thursday, Thompson took it a step further, saying the high-blood-pressure-inducing madness is actually good for his health.

"It helps me sleep better at night when it's physical," Thompson said.

Green enjoys it just as much _ but added that it affects him a bit differently.

"I definitely love a physical game," Green said. "It doesn't help me sleep though. I don't sleep after games, though. I'll be up until 5, 6 in the morning, just adrenaline still going. So maybe it does the opposite for me."

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