The NBA has ruled Draymond Green’s clash with LeBron James at the end of Game 4 was worthy of a Flagrant 1 foul, pushing Green over the postseason limit and earning him an automatic suspension for Game 5.
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Green will serve his suspension as the Warriors attempt to clinch their second straight National Basketball Association title in Monday’s game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.
Warriors forward Draymond Green, right, and Cavaliers forward LeBron James have some words for one another during Friday’s Game 4.
Golden State reserve forward James Michael McAdoo is averaging 0.5 points, 0.8 rebounds and 4.5 minutes of court time per game in these NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“He could’ve gotten exhausted”, Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said, of his standout forward.
Especially for a player like Green, who has gained a reputation as a chippy player during Golden State’s run through the playoffs.
Green had become one of the favorites to win Finals MVP after strong performances in the series’ first two games, but he won’t even be allowed in Oracle Arena on Monday. You just don’t go there and expect to not receive retaliation.
Consider this. Over the Warriors’ past three playoff losses – one to the Cavs, two straight at Oklahoma City – he scored but six points in each game. That wasn’t a foul either, but the league retroactively gave him a flagrant and fined him $25,000. “I think we all know”. “Me personally, I’ m good, but I know what type of challenge we’ re up against and it’ s going to be up to me to prepare my teammates for that”.
“We had a next-man-up approach all year”, Klay Thompson said. A heads-up about Draymond Green’s suspension sure would have been preferable and far more convenient for his planning purposes.
James was also assessed a technical foul for taunting Green.
After the Heat lost the 2014 NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs, when asked about his future, James said, “I love Miami”. “But it’s another challenge for us, and we’re going to embrace it, and we’re going to accomplish it”.
“Kareem did not play in Game 6 in 1980, and Magic had 42 points, 19 rebounds, and 15 assists”, Kerr said of the Lakers’ title-clincher over Philadelphia in Magic’s rookie season.
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The Warriors learned of the suspension late in the session, and Green wasn’t made available to the media. “I guess his feelings just got hurt”, added Thompson. “We’re not supposed to win tomorrow, not by anybody’s picks”, center Andrew Bogut said. In one of the league’s most iconic moments, Allen Iverson buried a jumper with Lue in his face and then, with Lue on the ground, stepped over him during a game in the NBA Finals in 2001. Remember, he used to do battle on a near annual basis with the Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett led Boston Celtics, who were certainly not above using vulgar trash talk.
