Draymond Green's stifling defense on Anthony Davis shows Warriors unique value
Once again, Draymond showing unique value to Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
LOS ANGELES – Though Draymond Green’s value is among the most frequent topics debated by NBA fans, the Warriors have been unwavering in their belief that he is essential to their success.
As they go through these playoffs, their ninth in Draymond’s 11 NBA seasons, it’s evident that remains true. Even at 33, Draymond remains Golden State’s most reliable solution to a difficult offensive puzzle.
When Lakers All-Star center Anthony Davis owned Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, with 30 points on 19 shots, 23 rebounds and one turnover, coach Steve Kerr and his staff made a few adjustments. Among them: Call Draymond.
Didn’t matter that Green is four inches shorter and 15 pounds lighter. He had cooled Davis in the late stages of Game 1 -- AD played the full fourth quarter and was 1 of 5 from the field -- while the Warriors rallied. So, now Draymond would get the primary assignment.
When Davis headed for the locker room after Game 2, he had 11 points on 11 shots, seven rebounds and four turnovers. Davis took heat from observers, but Green deserves some credit.
“Draymond was brilliant,” Kerr said after Game 2. “This is the guy who we have to have. He's our engine and we decided to put him on Davis from the start. He got us off to a good start defensively just with his aggressiveness.”
Stephen Curry has seen Draymond turn the direction of games, or a series, many times before. He is one of the all-time postseason players.
“Draymond was amazing tonight,” Curry said after Game 2. “That's the back and forth of a playoff series, and the adjustments that you make.”
The Warriors might not have reached the conference semifinals if not for Draymond’s sterling work in the first-round series against Sacramento.
When Kings All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox proved too much for anyone else to handle in Games 1 and 2, particularly in tight fourth quarters, Kerr and his staff made a few adjustments. Among them: Call Draymond.
Didn’t matter that he’s a forward/center who happens to be four inches taller and 40 pounds heavier than perhaps the quickest player in the NBA.
Fox, who deservedly won the inaugural NBA Clutch Player of the Year award, had sent the Warriors to defeat in the first two games, scoring a total of 26 fourth-quarter points on 55.5-percent shooting from the field, including 80 percent from beyond the arc. He got what he wanted.
With Draymond coming to the rescue in Game 4 (he missed Game 3 with a suspension) and beyond, Fox’s fourth quarters went dry. He scored a total of 23 points in the fourth quarters of the final four games, shooting 28.0 percent overall and 20 percent from deep.
“We decided to put Draymond on him,” Kerr said after Game 4. “Just change the look. And (Fox) still had a great second half. He's a handful.
“But getting Draymond on him and getting Draymond going offensively got him going; he got himself going through his play, and he was great in the second half.”
Fox scored 17 points in the second half of Game 4 but shot 5 of 15 from the field and committed two turnovers. Though Sacramento won Game 6, it was mostly behind the energy and shooting of Malik Monk, who scored 17 points on seven shots in the second half.
To recap, when the Warriors needed someone to contain a turbocharged point guard in the first round, they turned to Draymond. When they need someone to battle the highly skilled opposing center in the conference semifinals, they turned to Draymond.
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How many guys in the history of the league would even dare to embrace such disparate challenges? How many could be trusted to do a reasonably good job?
Davis might have more superb games in this series, but he realizes his task got exponentially harder in Game 2. Perhaps Game 3 on Saturday might indicate whether AD can succeed where Fox did not.
Shifting Draymond’s defensive assignment to the area of greatest need, from point guards to centers, is an adjustment within itself. Such value is beyond debate.
