Al Saracevic: Draymond Green is seldom at a loss for words or emotion.
It’s funny talking to the Warriors’ various superstars. They all bring a little something different to the press conference.
Stephen Curry is an engaging guy, but speaks in a direct, serious fashion. He’s used to being the face of the franchise and he carries it well. Klay Thompson clearly hates the whole thing, oftentimes staring at the ground as he mumbles quietly. A fifthgrader forced to attend church comes to mind. Kevin Durant is also very soft-spoken, but he understands the need to speak up when called upon. He’s a seasoned superstar with a soft touch. Then there’s Draymond Green. Oh, thank goodness for No. 23. The Walking Adjective. Engaging. Temperamental. Funny. Honest. Expressive. Green basks in the spotlight, dancing a tight line between comedy and controversy. The media loves the
guy, because he’s a quote machine. But he’s also a key cog to a championship dynasty. Winwin.
Going into the first-round matchup against the Spurs, Green will have to keep those wits about him, while also carrying a larger load than usual. Curry will miss the series with a sprained knee. And the rest of the team has been playing awful down the stretch. Green, himself, is generally considered to have turned in a sub-par season. But he doesn’t seem too concerned.
There we were the other day. The playoffs upon us, the Spurs coming to town and the press scrum at practice growing by the day. Green sat in the middle of it all, as usual, soaking in the attention, laughing, smiling and spinning gold.
On Curry’s health:
“Yeah, I ain’t no trainer, champ. That ain’t really my update to give. That ain’t in my job title.”
On the Spurs’ Gregg Popovich:
“Is he a good coach? Nah, he sucks (laughter). No, um, I think just what he’s been able to build over the years, with the consistency that they play with, he’s created a system where obviously you need great players, and he’s been the first one to always admit that . ... But he’s smart enough to admit that. Most people try to take all the credit and he don’t try to take all the credit.”
On his own coach, Steve Kerr:
“He’s not very good either (more laughter). No, um ... obviously Steve has been great for us. He’s obviously been on us to pick it up. He’s put together a great game plan for us going into this series. He has our trust. It’s a sense that we have. We know that if we execute the game plan, we give ourselves a chance to win.”
On the team’s season-long malaise:
“Every journey takes on its own life. No season is the same as the year before . ... That’s just the nature of the game we play. Every journey takes on a life of its own.”
It’s all part of The Daily Draymond Show we’ve witnessed over the past four seasons with these Warriors. Green has mastered the media, containing his temper and giving as good as he receives. He’s still working on mastering that temper on the court, where he once again
picked up 15 technical fouls this season, getting tossed from three games. (His total resets for the playoffs, for what it’s worth.)
He’ll have to check that volatility if the suddenly mortal Warriors hope to advance in the playoffs. While most eyes are on Durant, who is expected to step forward and shoulder the scoring and leadership role created by Curry’s absence, Warriors fans know that the team goes as Green goes.
That’s especially evident on defense, where Golden State’s smothering style has faltered in this uneven season. It’s on Green, last season’s Defensive Player of the Year, to provide the spark and emotion to lead his teammates and lock things down.
“It’s time for that,” said Green. “Going into the playoffs, you’re going to see your opponents several times. They’re going to know what you do and you’re going to know what they do. It’s about reacting, being locked in and focused.
“It’s playoff time. You get a different life. A different energy. Not saying everything’s going to go right. It’s about sticking with it. You know, trying to put together 48 minutes of good basketball, both sides of the ball.”
David West is a 15-year veteran, brought in last season to help enforce law and order in the paint. He came through beautifully, winning his first ring last season and improving his play this season. He knows Green needs to play a key role throughout these playoffs, but he’s not putting it all on his teammate’s shoulders.
“We’re not going to put that pressure on him,” said West. “We’ve got to have a better approach to the start of games. I wouldn’t say we’re putting pressure on him. It’s a matter of coming out of the gate with the right type of energy.”
And that’s where Green comes in.
“Mentally, I think he gets himself to a point where he’s gotta create that adversary,” said West. “The stakes are higher. Things will be a little more testy. ”
“He may have an opportunity,” said West.
It was the understatement of the day.
Al Saracevic is the Sports Editor of The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: asaracevic@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @alsaracevic