“After a thorough investigation that included review of all available video angles and interviews with the players involved and the officials working the game, we have determined that Green’s foul was unnecessary and excessive and warranted the upgrade and fine”, Vandeweghe said. “I get it”, Durant said.
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Draymond Green took a seat after shootaround Tuesday morning and cordially flicked away every question related to the Game 3 incident that dominated the sports news cycle for a full 24 hours.
“We kept our foot on the gas”, said Durant, as opposed to a certain Warrior keeping his foot somewhere else. I know I would be. “I know I didn’t do it on objective”. But it seems like he was the one that was flailing, kicking his legs out and stuff yesterday.
So after spending the bulk of Monday deliberating what to do next, the decision came down that Green will be eligible to play in Game 4 of the series Tuesday in Oklahoma City. “I didn’t even really think about it. I knew the league was gonna let him play, or fine him, or upgrade him to a flagrant two”.
It was a far cry from what both Green and his coach, Steve Kerr, predicted would happen in the aftermath of Game 3, that the league would rescind the flagrant one altogether because in their view it was completely an incidental, unintentional act that happened because Green was trying to draw a foul.
“He needs to refocus a little bit”, Kerr said. He will be free to play in Game 4, although an additional postseason flagrant foul will put him over the limit and trigger a one-game suspension. There were at least a dozen subjective interpretations but the only one that mattered was the one that would be passed down from the league office. When I played for Mike Dunleavy, he was great with the scouting report …
“Does he have to be careful?”
“I can’t control that”, Durant said. “I’m just going to be me, and the game will play out the way it plays out”. Adams is struggling with his $2.2 million dollar deal. “If you watch my reaction, I walk back to the three-point line, clap everybody’s hands, turn around and look like, ‘What’s the dude on the floor for?'” He was 1 for 9 from the field with six points and the Warriors were outscored by 43 points when he was on the court. The surprise was it was the Warriors, and especially Green, their emotional leader, who missed eight of his nine shots, had only four rebounds and never displayed his usual aggression or fire. I brought the ball over the top this way (makes motion), he fouled me, and I brought my leg up. I said OK, that’s understandable. “I was just bad”. I hear people discussing my game in terms of all these advanced numbers. “It was frustrating that I couldn’t get it going”.
Green has been below his standard throughout the series.
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The NBA has always been accused of playing favorites with star players. “You can look at trends and all that”. In the Houston series, he was able to understand what he needed to do differently. He’s a very smart guy. He has a great eye for the game. “He’ll find a way”.
