Warriors’ Green raises his game

Draymond Green’s remarkable postseason has pushed beyond basketball, featuring Charles Barkley declaring he’d like to punch the emotional Golden State forward, a death threat from a frustrated fan who Green encouraged to get the help he needs, and an attempt by the All-Star to listen in on the Pelicans huddle.

Oh, and it just so happens Green also became the first Warriors player to ever average a triple-double in a postseason series.

“He’s just incredibly engaged and locked in. This is the best I’ve seen him play all year,” coach Steve Kerr said. “Draymond has to play hard to do what he does. I think the playoffs have energized him.”

Green is at his best on the big stage and playing just on the edge — pushing boundaries by being just physical enough without crossing the line, dishing out just enough trash talk, though others may beg to differ.

Green flaps his mouth with the best of them in what many might consider overthe-top gamesmanship, engaging with Rajon Rondo — Green praised his opponent afterward — in what became a testy matchup during the Warriors’ five-game series win against the Pelicans.

Green’s enormous personality prompted TNT analyst Barkley to declare, “I want to punch him in the face, I really do.” Green just fired back. “He’s seen me a million times. If he feels that strongly about it then punch me in my face when you see me,” Green said. “If you’re not going to punch me in my face when you see me then shut up. It’s no different than somebody sitting behind a computer screen tweeting, ‘I’ll knock you out,’ and you never see them in life. Well he’s seen me a bunch of times and he’ll see me again this year. Punch me in the face or if not, no one cares what you would have done. You’re old and it is what it is.”

Barkley later apologized and called his comments inappropriate.

Next up for Green is a date with James Harden, Chris Paul and the top-seeded Houston Rockets.

“I live for playoff basketball,” Green said. “It’s the most fun time of the year for me, but just, you know, locking in and focusing.”

The Charlotte Hornets officially named James Borrego as head coach.

The 40-year-old Borrego joins the Hornets after 15 seasons as an NBA assistant coach, including the last three with San Antonio under Gregg Popovich. …

Oklahoma City forward Nick Collison is retiring after 15 years in the NBA.