[ad_1]
OAKLAND, Calif. – Before being champions, before Kevin Durant came to town and before building a billion dollar arena on the other side of the bay, the Golden State Warriors were changed the NBA with the "line of death".
It was five guys who could dribble, pass and score, applying a level of pressure on opponents that no one had ever seen before. Of course, it was built around the singular talents of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but it has always been made possible by the flexibility of Draymond Green.
In the fog of games screaming with his coach, screaming matches with teammates, technical fouls, choppy legs, suspensions, unhappy social media messages, injuries and conditioning issues, it's easy to forget how green can be unique .
This series with the Houston Rockets, which the Warriors lead 2-0 after a 115-109 win in the second game, was a comeback to Green's glory. He has been the best version of himself for two games and for much of the playoffs, which included a triple-double when the Warriors closed LA's Clippers last week.
Find everything you need to know about the playoffs here.
The Warrior coach, Steve Kerr, who had limited the renowned Hamptons 5 training this season while he was working for DeMarcus Cousins, decided to make it the starting group for this series. It was something Kerr had not done all season, a daring move with such high stakes.
The decision put a heavy burden on Green, as he would have to play long distances as the main defender of the Rockets center Clint Capela, a pick-and-roll demon specializing in lob defense – a major facet of the Houston offense.
Kerr, however, had his reasons.
First, the training at Curry-Durant-Thompson-Green-Andre Iguodala was the most effective of all the groups that the Warriors played in the four games against the Rockets during the regular season. But more importantly, Kerr knew that Green was in the best physical condition he was in at this point of the season. It was a bit of a throwback for these post-seasons between 2014 and 2016, when Green was really at its peak.
It has worked wonderfully so far. Green is so light on his feet and focused that it can be everywhere, the kind of performance that has made him a star. In this match, he can hold James Harden in screen situations while recovering quickly to defend Capela's lobs, almost neutralized in the first two games.
His activity extends to the rebound, where he has always been good, and particularly at the end of the offensive, where he tries to beat his opponents in open spaces as if he was 5 years younger than him. He had five offensive rebounds on Tuesday and 12 in the general standings with 15 points.
"[He’s] It's still a problem, "said Rockets coach Mike D & # 39; Antoni." It's an All-Star for a reason. He is really good. Kind of leader in the center or forward. He plays well. This is a hell of a player. "
Not always. Green has been slowed by injuries over the past two seasons. Last season, a shoulder injury wiped out his shot to the point that his opponents virtually stopped watching him on the perimeter. A hip problem continued in the playoffs. This season, a toe injury and a painful knee have slowed it down. He entered the season with the goal of winning the defensive player title of the year, but he was not fit enough to fight seriously.
"All this year, I do not think I was in top form," Green said. "[I’m] really just lock and focus on my body; making it healthy and ready for this time of year has been important. "
After the break from the stars, Green adopted a strict diet and began to intensify his workouts on rest days. He lost more than 20 pounds in six weeks and the difference is striking. His speed and versatility go back to the beginning of his career. His shot is not fully restored, but everything else makes him feel like he's back.
"It feels good to go out and not hurt," said Green. "Sometimes during the year, like an injury to the toe, every time you press on this point, you put pressure on it, it kills me.You are somehow afraid of falling on the ground. "
Green was surely motivated by the playoffs and his desire to win a third consecutive title. But there is also his contract. Green signed an $ 82 million five-year contract in 2015. This makes him one of the star players who has not been able to take advantage of the 2016 pay rise that has inflated wages in the league.
One of the reasons the Warriors were able to afford Durant for so long was that Green had signed a favorable deal the year before. Green has not been afraid to point this out over the years.
Although he has only one season left to do, Green is preparing for the contract extension talks this summer, since he will be eligible for an extension last year. He recently changed agent – hiring Rich Paul of Klutch Sports – to prepare for the talks, which may get complicated.
Because even though Green thinks he is underpaid because of the changing market, his efficiency and output have dropped over the past two seasons. With his history of growing injuries and his advanced age – he was just 29 years old – it's hard to know what the Warriors would be willing to pay before he could test the free agent market.
This cloud is still on the horizon, but Green's reversal in recent weeks has sent the message that he is still a valuable player. If he's able to do that for a few extra weeks and help the Warriors get a fourth ring, Green could get everything he wants.
"I feel good there, I think it shows in my room," Green said. "But it's a long road for what we want to do, I just have to keep doing what I'm doing, keep trying to bring it to the ground."
[ad_2]
Source link