Before the All-Star break, even before Christmas, Draymond Green was struggling on the court, not to mention an early season blowup with Kevin Durant.
In December and January he shot 39.3 percent from the field and 26 percent from beyond the arc. Add that to a passionate player whose emotions can sometimes get the best of him, Green appeared to be the weak link and on his way out after his contract expired in 2020. Possibly sooner.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob was never worried about Green finding his footing again, nor did he ever consider writing him off.
According to The Athletic, Lacob said:
He’s Draymond Green. I wasn’t worried. I want Draymond Green to be here forever. He’s as Warrior as they come.
Now Green has flipped the script and is a key piece to the Warriors’ run at a three-peat. He is locked in on defense, and averaging 14.5 points per game against the Rockets, forcing Houston to play honest defense on Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.
Green has also scored in double figures in all eight playoff games, averaging 12.6 points.
Green pointed to Detroit rapper, Eminem’s “Forgot About Dre” song as a counter to all the criticism:
How Em say it? Nowadays everybody wanna talk, like they got something to say. But nothing comes out when they move their lips. Just a bunch of gibberish. And (expletive) act like they forgot about Dray.
Green is healthy and lighter and more agile than he was earlier in the season.
Steph Curry said the Warriors feed off his energy:
The last three or four games, in terms of his decisiveness, energy, effort, plugging holes on defense, finding lanes on the offensive end to drive and finish, and taking shots when he’s open. The confidence kind of just pouring out of him is contagious for us and allows us to continue to build momentum throughout the course of the game. He keeps the defense honest, for sure. The way they try to defend us. He’s a threat.
With DeMarcus Cousins out, Green has been relied on to play the majority of his minutes at center instead of power forward, and the former Defensive Player of the Year is pleased with this role:
I feel great out there. I think it’s showing in my play. But it’s a long road for what we want to do. … Health plays a big part in that. It feels good to be healthy. I haven’t been healthy in a while. It feels good to step out there and not have an ache. … Feels good to go out there and be healthy and play the game I love with my body feeling good.
Green is eligible for a contract extension this offseason. It’s safe to say they’ll remember playoff Dray.
