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Game 1’s lackluster performance raised doubts about Draymond Green’s ability to aid the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, but Green proved his doubters wrong in Game 2 by returning to his usual dominant form. Check out the best bookmakers for betting on the NBA Finals!
Green’s aggressiveness played a significant role as Golden State dominated the Boston Celtics in the second game. It also made people wonder if he went too far and if he got special treatment from the officials in a place where he could have been thrown out.
At 4:47 in the middle of the first quarter, Green got his first technical foul after pushing Celtics forward Grant Williams. However, Green stayed his usual fiery self, seemingly unfazed by the possibility of getting another technical and being ejected.
“Not at all,” Green said to ESPN’s Michael Eaves during an interview on SportsCenter when asked about his astonishment at the lack of additional techs. “Itβs the NBA Finals. Like I said, I wear my badge of honor.”
He talked multiple times with Celtics players all night, getting into many verbal fights and even telling Williams, “You want to be me,” at one point. Obviously, Green agreed with the way the situation was handled while claiming that he’s gained the benefit of the doubt following his ten NBA seasons.
“Itβs not that Iβm saying they necessarily treat me different,β Green said. βIβve earned differential treatment. I enjoy that. I embrace that. But I’m never gonna let someone stand over me. I’m a man first. My kids are in the stands. I don’t play those types of games. So, whatever happens at that point happens.” Check out the top new sportsbooks for betting on the NGA!
A fresh perspective was taken by Jaylen Brown on the play. Green managed to block a 3-point shot by Brown with 55 seconds left until halftime. After Brown passed the ball, Green fell backwards into him and both players hit the ground. Green’s legs were all over Brown’s body, so Brown had to push Green off. Green gave a push back.
Green was not pleased as Brown got to his feet and stood over him. He grabbed Brown’s pants and pulled himself up, which made Brown yell that Green “tried to pull my pants down.” Other players and officials then separated the two.
A former NBA referee and officiating expert, Steve Javie was interviewed by ABC during the review. He claimed that officials should ignore the evident double-technical situation because Green had previously committed a technical foul.
“I think that’s part of good officiating,β Javie said. βYou have to know who has the technical fouls. In this situation, one of the players does. Is this enough to warrant an ejection?”
Green is a well-known agitator in the NBA. He often walks a fine line between playing dirty and playing hard. He created an atmosphere for how physical Game 2 would be right away, and his confrontational vibe was a significant reason why the Warriors pushed 18 turnovers from the Celtics on their way to a 107-88 blowout win.
This Golden State-Boston game may have gone very differently if Green had been disqualified late in the second quarter. But on Sunday night, Green was able to manage that without crossing the fine line.
“I don’t play the game worried about getting thrown out or not,” Green said on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” late Sunday night. “I play the game chasing the level of physicality I want the game to be at. And however you get that done, you get that done.”
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