Green’s Fiery Behavior Ignites Warriors’ Energy
Draymond Green led the Golden State Warriors to an incredible comeback win against the New Orleans Pelicans in a recent NBA match. The game was not without its fair share of controversy, as Green’s behavior during the game came under scrutiny.
Green showed off his flexibility on the court, but it was his fiery behavior that ignited the Warriors’ energy and helped them win the game. In the second quarter, Green committed an offensive foul and appeared to try and kick Herb Jones while they were entangled on the floor. The referee held Jones back and Green was whistled for a charge. Despite this setback, Steve Kerr, the coach of the Golden State Warriors, had no issue with Green’s behavior and admitted that “we all deserved” his wrath.
Green’s Technical Foul Count
Green’s behavior wasn’t without consequence, however. He received a double technical with Brandon Ingram after a hard foul by Green that led to a tussle. The foul against Ingram was upgraded to a Flagrant 1, and Green already served a one-game suspension on March 17 for picking up his 16th technical.
Green’s 17th technical on the season will result in a minimum fine of $5,000 per NBA rules—and if he picks up an additional technical (an 18th), he will be suspended again.
Kuminga Shines in Win
Despite these issues, Green persevered and willed the team to victory with his frustration and yelling at everybody – their bench, our bench, and Kerr himself. Golden State Warriors moved up to sixth place in the Western Conference standings after the crucial win over New Orleans.
Kuminga received the start to get matched up on Ingram and delivered 31 minutes. He was a key player in the win, along with Curry and Poole. Green was a plus-26 in his 33 minutes.
Warriors Prep for Playoffs
The favorable final five games will help the Warriors prep for the playoffs and avoid the Play-In bracket. However, Andrew Wiggins is still without a timetable for his return, and the team hopes to get him back before the playoffs.
McCollum Pays Price for Provoking Green
The Pelicans were not without their own controversy. CJ McCollum and New Orleans Pelicans lost to Golden State Warriors in a recent match. Green’s fiery behavior led to exchanging words with McCollum following a hard foul by Green on Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram. McCollum was given a Flagrant 1 foul after pushing Donte DiVincenzo.
Green spoke to Chris Haynes after the game, stating that their early deficit and McCollum’s trashtalk motivated him to turn things around for his team. In the end, the Warriors outscored the Pelicans 74-46 in the second half and secured a win over a fellow Western Conference playoff hopeful.
In conclusion, while Draymond Green’s behavior during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans may be viewed as questionable by some, there is no denying that his energy and fire helped lead the Golden State Warriors to an incredible comeback victory. With only a few games left before the playoffs, it remains to be seen whether Green can stay focused and maintain his competitiveness without crossing any lines.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
