-
Kendra AndrewsESPN
Memphis, Tenn – The Golden State Warriors had little reaction to the league’s announcement that it would not downgrade Draymond Green2 fatal mistake he took in the second quarter of Game One of the Western Conference semifinals against the Memphis Grizzlies.
However, there is reason to wonder if Greene’s two blatant points will affect the way he plays from now on.
“I’m not going to change the way I play basketball,” Green said after training on Monday. “You’ve got me so far. I’ve got three championships, four stars, best defensive player of the year. I won’t change now.”
After Green was kicked out in Game 1, the Grizzlies Brandon Clark He said his play — which ended with Green Clark hitting his head and holding his shirt — was not surprising. Clarke said he has watched Green perform such plays throughout his career.
Green said he was not surprised by Clark’s comment and that he wouldn’t let it bother him.
“You got a badge of honor,” Green said. “Not everyone can earn this reputation.”
Green was suspended from Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals after picking up four blatant points in the post-season. When asked if his dismissal on Sunday was similar to what happened in 2016, Green said “every year seems the same to me. Nothing has changed my entire career.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr and his guard Stephen Curry Be warned that while they don’t want Green to change his way of playing from now on, he should play with a certain caution to avoid picking up two glaring points that could lead to suspension.
“Unfortunately, yes, he has to realize that,” said Carey. “Only he can tell you what that means for him and how he approaches each game. I want him to be himself and make the plays he can make and affect the game, be clear, be the Draymond we expect. But, he can’t be in a situation where he would conflict interpretation of the rules.
“It’s not going to take the sting out of the way we play,” Green said. “Because then we go home early, and [flagrant] Points are no longer important. I don’t know how to take the bite. It doesn’t work for me.”
