OAKLAND — By the time Draymond Green grabbed the microphone after Golden State’s 121-116 win in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against New Orleans, there was plenty of evidence that he was in no mood to back down from anyone’s challenge.
The mercurial Warriors forward had gone toe-to-toe with Rajon Rondo just before halftime at Oracle Arena, when the Pelicans point guard took exception to Green’s words after a Klay Thompson three-pointer at the buzzer gave Golden a 58-55 lead. He got tangled up with Anthony Davis midway through the third quarter, when the two tumbled to the floor and Green sold his rolling crocodile act well enough to earn a double-foul.
And when it came to Charles Barkley’s candid commentary on TNT, where the analyst and Hall of Famer expressed his displeasure with Green’s antics at halftime and said “I want to punch him in the face so bad,” Green took a familiar tact. He went right back at his opponent. Never mind that Barkley was in an Atlanta studio more than 2,000 miles away.
“I heard what he said,” Green, who had 20 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds and two blocks as the Warriors went up 2-0 in the series, said when asked about Barkley. “A lot of guys talk on TV, stand behind a microphone and a TV screen. The fact of the matter is if you feel that strongly about something, he’s seen me a million times. If you feel that strongly about it, then punch me in my face when you see me.
“If you’re not going to punch me in my face when you see me, then shut up. It’s no different than somebody sitting behind a computer screen tweeting, ‘I’ll knock you out,’ and you never seen them in life. But he’s seen me a bunch of times, and he’ll see me again this year. Punch me in the face when you see me, or if not no one cares what you would have done. You old and it is what is. So if you ain’t going to punch me when you see me, then stop talking about it. Period.”
As for the game itself, Green opted for an exclamation point – again.
The three-time All-Star has been the Warriors’ best all-around player during this postseason run, helping them set the stage for Steph Curry’s return in Game 2 by checking more proverbial boxes than anyone else in these playoffs not named LeBron James. Not only is Green nearly averaging a triple-double (13.3 points, 11.4 rebounds and nine assists per game), but his plus-minus of 11.1 is a team-high among players who have been healthy since the start of the first round (Curry was a plus-26 in his 28-point return). With the Warriors up five at the start of the fourth, Green hit two three-pointers in the first 55 seconds to push the lead to eight.
“Draymond has been phenomenal throughout the playoffs," Kerr said. "He's been saving himself for the playoffs. It's a long regular season, especially after three straight trips to the Finals, and you can tell the difference in the intensity from a lot of our guys, but Draymond in particular.”
Yet true to form, it’s the reigning Defensive Player of the Year’s impact on that end which has mattered most of all. The Warriors, who finished ninth in defensive rating during the regular season (104.2 points allowed per 100 possessions), lead all playoff teams in that key category (99.9).
“I live for playoff basketball,” Green said. “It's the most fun time of the year for me. …Locking in and focusing, kind of taking what the defense gives me. You know, just trying to create for my teammates in any way that I possibly can.
“It's fun. It's the best time of year to play basketball. You know, just try to take advantage of that opportunity. I know when you're playing a great team like that, a team with so many options and weapons, I have to be a threat. I think I've done a decent job so far.”
To say the least.
"We love his intensity," Curry said of Green. "He's been playing amazing this whole playoff run, taking the challenge defensively whoever he is guarding, being an officiator on offense, knocking down shots. Timely shots like he did in the fourth tonight. It's fun to watch, and when his emotions like that and he's having fun doing what he's doing, that's a big pick-up for us as a team."
