Green biting his lip for Thunder series
OAKLAND, Calif. — Stunningly, Draymond Green kept his mouth shut on the court for a full practice Saturday.
Golden State’s outspoken swingman is striving to cut down on his arguing and technical fouls for the rest of the postseason — which could be as challenging a task in the Western Conference finals as slowing down the explosive Thunder tandem of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
“It was a quiet practice,” forward Harrison Barnes said with a big grin as the Warriors prepared Game 1 on Monday night at Oracle Arena.
Green has four technicals so far, and seven would land him an automatic one-game suspension. He will give himself “a little wiggle room” to get one more.
“I’m not contesting any calls,” he said. “No. Because if I contest a call, no matter how my approach is going to go then, it’s going to change. I know me. I’m going to walk the other way and if they call a foul, ‘Good call.’ I’m not talking, nope.”
Also Saturday, 7-foot center Andrew Bogut didn’t practice for the sec- ond straight day because of a strained muscle in his right leg between the groin and hamstring that he hurt in Wednesday’s second-round series clincher against the Portland Trail Blazers. Coach Steve Kerr still hoped Bogut would practice Sunday, but the backup plan will be to move Festus Ezeli into the starting lineup for Monday if need be. Bogut did some post work and shooting.
Golden State’s scrimmage Saturday was officiated by coaches Jarron Collins and Chris DeMarco, and even with all the bad calls, according to Barnes, Green bit his lip.
“They were calling terrible calls. I said: ‘You know what? I’m not talking to y’all. I’m going to keep my cool, not talking to the referees. Just play basketball.’ I was good today,” Green said. “I’ve got to practice it now, though. It’s habit. I’m working on it. That’s something I have to focus on, and I haven’t focused on it at all in this playoffs. But I’m focused on it now.”