Defensive Draymond is on top of his game
At every waking hour, one thing dominates Draymond Green’s thoughts. The Warriors’ forward wants to reclaim the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award. In about five months, Green might get his wish.
“He’s always in that conversation,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “There’s only a handful of guys that will be in that conversation
every year. Draymond is one of them.”
So is Utah center Rudy Gobert, who won last season’s DPOY award at Green’s expense. Not only did it peeve Green that he lost a vote he won in the 2015-16 season, but it also upset him that he wasn’t named to the NBA’s AllDefensive First Team.
Coincidentally or not, Green poked fun at Gobert on Twitter recently after the Jazz center cried about not making the NBA All-Star team.
“Modern-day Twitter warfare,” Kerr said.
And then Tuesday night, in a 115-108 victory over Utah, Green
channeled his 140-character trash talk into defensive intensity. Coincidental, or not?
“I don’t need another guy to motivate me to do what I’m great at,” Green said. “I try to be great every time I step on the floor. I’m starting to feel better. I got my legs under me. I’m starting to move a lot better. Defense is looking a lot better. That’s the goal.”
Green loaded up his DPOY resume-reel against Gobert and the Jazz.
On one play, Green rotated over to block Jazz forward Derrick Favors at the rim. Favors fell down, the Warriors grabbed the rebound and DeMarcus Cousins got a fastbreak layup. On another play, Green rotated from the paint to the perimeter to block Jae Crowder’s 3-point corner shot.
“I was really good defensively. I was able to put it together on that side of the ball,” Green said. “Whether it was on the ball or off the ball, I was making plays on that side of the floor.”
Green talked trash with his opponents. He also talking to his teammates about rotating. Green defended in the post. He defended the perimeter. He intimidated opponents with his physicality. He outmaneuvered them with his smarts.
“When he’s locked in, dialed in and his energy is there you see how much of a disrupter he is out there on the floor. Its’ kind of contagious,” Stephen Curry said. “It’s kind of one of those Draymond-esque games where a stat line is what it is but it’s his impact on the game if you’re actually watching. He’s everywhere and winning plays all over the court.”
As it often is with Green, the Warriors did not just pay attention to his six points, modest shooting (3 of 7), bad 3-point shooting (0 of 4). Instead, they marveled at his seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks. Green admittedly wished he’d had taken advantage of the Jazz’s sagging defense on him, saying, “I shot the [hell] out of the ball in warmups.” Instead, Green made the Jazz pay with timely screens and passes.
And then when the Jazz had the ball, Green fulfilled almost every defensive responsibility.
“He’s got a tough job because he has to guard so many people,” Kerr said of Green. “Modern NBA, everybody is shooting 3s and penetrating. It’s hard to guard these days. You have to have someone like Draymond to anchor your defense.”
Green struggled anchoring the Warriors’ defense earlier this season. He had missed a combined 15 games this season because of an injured right toe (13), a suspension for his argument with Kevin Durant (one) and for rest (one). During his absence, the Warriors fared 18th in defensive rating (108.8). Since Green’s return? Different story. In the last 23 games, the Warriors are ninth in defensive rating (108.7).
Green kept the Warriors’ defensive marks high against Utah despite a right knee contusion he sustained at the end of Sunday’s game against Miami. Although the Warriors listed him as questionable Tuesday, Green participated in the morning shootaround and was out there for pregame warmups.
“You got to play,” Green said. “You can’t be out there and say, ‘My knee is bad.’”
If not for the right toe injury early in the season, Green probably would be spending the weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina, playing in his fifth straight All-Star Game.
No matter. Green said he’d booked a beach vacation before the All Star reserves were named.
“I’d rather be on vacation. I’m excited to go on vacation with my family,” Green said. “I haven’t looked forward to a particular time period in my life so much that I have this week coming up.”
What, Green did not want to visit chilly Charlotte?
“I don’t really want to be in Charlotte,” Green said. “I could’ve gone to Charlotte. I didn’t want to be in Charlotte though. I wanted to go to a beach. That’s what I’m doing. Congratulations on the All-Stars. That’s great. It’s a great accomplishment in this league to be a part of those 24 guys. That didn’t quite happen this year. That’s cool with me. Vacation is coming up, and I can’t wait. I’ll go get me a tan.”