“Draymond Green’s Explosive Comeback: Warriors’ Secret Weapon Unleashed – Can His Voice Save Golden State’s Season?”

“Draymond Green’s Explosive Comeback: Warriors’ Secret Weapon Unleashed – Can His Voice Save Golden State’s Season?”

 

MILWAUKEE — The fourth quarter was about to begin, the Warriors were down five key players and down two against the mighty Milwaukee Bucks. A street-clothed Draymond Green had to get involved.

 

Green got up from his seat on the bench and began orchestrating the first defensive possession, pointing and shouting his teammates into their proper positions to counter. Through a rough week defined primarily by miscommunication and funk, Green’s voice — even from the sideline — pierced the dead silence.

 

“He talks to guys during timeouts, during the game,” coach Steve Kerr said. “He has a great sense of the game and he was talking to JK about how to guard certain guys, which direction to send them. Draymond is a huge help and I’m looking forward to getting him back on the floor.”

 

The Warriors played some improved defense without Green in Milwaukee in that, for the first time in three games, they did not give up more than 70 points in the first half — against a potent Bucks offense, at that. But justification for the Warriors having lost seven of their last 10 games always traces back to poor defense. For the bad defense Steph Curry has blamed lack of collective trust, Dario Saric said roster unfamiliarity leads to a lot of overhelping that leaves opposing players wide open to score. But everyone blames this bad defense on miscommunication.

 

“It’s a little bit tough because we have so many people out of the lineup and the rotations are in a jumble and have been through the year,” Brandin Podziemski said. “When we get healthy and get everyone back, we’ll be solid. But most of it comes down to effort and wanting to do it.”

 

Players need to speak up on the court, and no one the roster — let alone the entire league — communicates on defense quite like Green. As the trade deadline approaches, talks of how a player swap and fresh blood can rejuvenate a contender will dominate the discourse. But so, too, will Green’s imminent return. And all signs point to Green returning either against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday or against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.

 

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SPORTSNBAGOLDEN STATE WARRIORSNews

Draymond Green’s return is imminent, and the Warriors desperately need his voice

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green could return on this road trip

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 watches from the bench in the second quarter of their NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green #23 watches from the bench in the second quarter of their NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Author

By SHAYNA RUBIN | srubin@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group

PUBLISHED: January 14, 2024 at 5:24 a.m. | UPDATED: January 14, 2024 at 5:24 a.m.

 

MILWAUKEE — The fourth quarter was about to begin, the Warriors were down five key players and down two against the mighty Milwaukee Bucks. A street-clothed Draymond Green had to get involved.

 

Green got up from his seat on the bench and began orchestrating the first defensive possession, pointing and shouting his teammates into their proper positions to counter. Through a rough week defined primarily by miscommunication and funk, Green’s voice — even from the sideline — pierced the dead silence.

 

“He talks to guys during timeouts, during the game,” coach Steve Kerr said. “He has a great sense of the game and he was talking to JK about how to guard certain guys, which direction to send them. Draymond is a huge help and I’m looking forward to getting him back on the floor.”

 

The Warriors played some improved defense without Green in Milwaukee in that, for the first time in three games, they did not give up more than 70 points in the first half — against a potent Bucks offense, at that. But justification for the Warriors having lost seven of their last 10 games always traces back to poor defense. For the bad defense Steph Curry has blamed lack of collective trust, Dario Saric said roster unfamiliarity leads to a lot of overhelping that leaves opposing players wide open to score. But everyone blames this bad defense on miscommunication.

 

“It’s a little bit tough because we have so many people out of the lineup and the rotations are in a jumble and have been through the year,” Brandin Podziemski said. “When we get healthy and get everyone back, we’ll be solid. But most of it comes down to effort and wanting to do it.”

 

Players need to speak up on the court, and no one the roster — let alone the entire league — communicates on defense quite like Green. As the trade deadline approaches, talks of how a player swap and fresh blood can rejuvenate a contender will dominate the discourse. But so, too, will Green’s imminent return. And all signs point to Green returning either against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday or against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.

 

 

They need him.

 

In all, the Warriors’ 118.6 defensive rating ranks as the 22nd worst of all 30 NBA teams this year. More startling is their 124.8 defensive rating in the 16 games Green’s missed since his indefinite suspension hit on Dec. 12. Green’s suspension was lifted on Jan. 6, but Green has been ramping up into playing shape before he can play having not participated in team practices during his suspension.

 

“He has an ability to communicate, get us into defensive sets and guard multiple positions and just be one of the greatest defenders that ever played,” Klay Thompson said. “Should be easy for Draymond (to get back into the flow), he’s one of the greatest to ever do it. I don’t see it being too tough on him.”

 

 

 

 

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