This article was compiled from: ESPN
Written by Ramona Shelburne
原文标题：How Draymond Green's suspension ... might've saved Warriors' season
When Draymond Green walked into the Chase Center late Thursday night, he already knew what he needed to do.
Green was not only ejected for stepping on Sabonis Jr.'s chest in the first round of the Warriors' playoff game with the Kings, but also received an additional one-game suspension. In Series G3, Green watched as a spectator as the Warriors scored a victory that could be called a "saving season."
"I was fascinated by the team's performance, that game was the equivalent of watching a video for me, I saw some details." Green said.
Behind the scenes of Green's fight on the bench
In G3, the Warriors adopt a single interior lineup, and the offensive space is better. Meanwhile, the long-underrated Kevin Looney played a stunning performance, scoring four points, grabbing 20 rebounds and providing nine assists to fill the void left by Green's suspension.
When Green arrived at the arena, the rest of the Warriors' players who had just finished playing G3 were still in the locker room. Green chatted with Stephen Curry about his thoughts, and then walked into coach Steve Kerr's office to express his thoughts -
In G4, the Warriors only have one interior lineman who should play as a starter, and that candidate should be Looney, not Green himself.
"We can't remove Looney, it's, it shouldn't be him. If there's an inside lineman who needs to play as a substitute, let me play as a substitute. Green said.
Green's words are basically consistent with the insider's revelations, who revealed that Green was willing to accept a substitute after witnessing the team's G3 performance. In addition, Green discussed with the team the simplification of the attack, the reduction of mistakes and the control of the pace of the game.
The cycle of starters and substitutes
Since Kerr became Warriors coach and arranged for Green to replace David Lee as the starter, Green has started 595 of the 597 games he has played.
In Green's view, this is just a reincarnation.
"The most important reason I was able to walk into the room and say, 'Coach, I need to play as a substitute,' is because I've seen Lee hug me and put his arm around me and say 'this is what you need to do' no matter what the situation is. Because it all started with an All-Star player saying to me, 'This is what you need to do'. ”
You know, at that time, Green was only a third-year student, and he had not yet established himself in the league as a second-round pick, and Lee was an All-Star power forward. Cole chose to start Green, and what happened after that is history.
For Green and Cole, the decision to "take Green as a backup" was not so easy to make. But it's clear that the Warriors want to turn things around in this series, and that's what they need to do.
"I love the applause that the audience gave Green," Klay Thompson said, "and Green is a player who changed the way basketball is played, he's the kind of spatial interior who can defend every position." We thank Green for his selflessness and leadership, and he understands the sport better than anyone I know. ”
Insiders revealed that after the news of Green's additional suspension, the Warriors turned frustration into anger and determination hungry for revenge. Privately and publicly, the Warriors rallied closely around Green, and eventually tied the big score by one point in G4.
How strong is the single interior lineup?
How good are Curry, Thompson, Poole, Wiggins and Looney on the floor at the same time? In the last two games, this lineup has won 21 points in 31 minutes of the game. During the period, the Warriors scored 122.2 points per 100 rounds, only 94.4 points in 100 rounds, and the net win score per 100 rounds was a terrifying close to 28 points, and the offense and defense were dominant.
Assuming the Warriors G3 loses without Green, the outcome may be very different, because the Warriors face two major problems: an aging roster and a heavy luxury tax burden. However, the Warriors quickly adapted to the adversity without Green, and they beat the Kings at G3 with a more open, faster-paced play.
It wasn't uncommon for the Warriors to switch into smaller lineup forms during the Warriors dynasty, and their style of play defined the era, with their small lineups playing a major role in some key moments.
For example, in the 2015 Finals Warriors vs. Cavaliers, when the Cavaliers successfully slowed down the pace of the game by pinching Curry and took a 2-1 lead, the Warriors adopted an unconventional small lineup at the suggestion of young assistant coach Nick Ullen, and the Warriors replaced Bogut as the starter with Iguodala, and the Warriors completed a Jedi turnaround to win the championship.
G3 and G4, replaced Green in the starting position of Jordan Poole. In the playoffs last season, when Curry returned from injury to find form, Poole temporarily played for Curry. It's hard to say how long the Warriors' adjustment will last, and in the second half of G4, Kerr restarted Green in order to limit De'Aaron Fox and Keegan Murray. However, the Warriors have been making this roster adjustment throughout the season, occasionally starting Poole and creating as much offensive space as possible for Curry and Thompson.
When the Warriors feel the need to make roster changes, Green, Looney or any other player can go on the bench. G4, Green accepted the arrangement, just as Lee had done for him years earlier.
"You and the team have to reciprocate, never be complacent, never think too high. As long as you can help the team win in the end, that's what you have to do, because it's the team that wins the ball that matters. Green said.