SAN FRANCISCO — Just 20 seconds into Wednesday’s Game 5 playoff matchup between the Warriors and the Lakers, Draymond Green fouled Anthony Davis.
The crowd was still fired up from the opening tip, but you could hear the groans. Uh oh. Was it going to be one of those games again? Where the Lakers get Draymond in foul trouble and hold a parade at the free throw line?
Draymond didn’t let it happen. Despite the early foul, he stayed locked in and kept his intensity level at a 10. Draymond chirped with AD from the get-go and was the engine behind the 121-106 which kept the Warriors series alive, as they’ll face a 3-2 deficit going into Friday’s Game 6 at Crypto.com Arena.
Draymond and AD chirping early 🗣 pic.twitter.com/GqFH90nAJo
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) May 11, 2023
"That was my mindset from the gate -- to just attack," Green said. "Whether I was shooting the 3 or attacking the hole, whether it was defensively. Just attack. That will be my mindset going into LA. We're still not done facing elimination. We're gonna be facing elimination the rest of this series."
Given Draymond’s close relationship with LeBron James, many Warriors fans openly suggested that he was being too nice or taking it easy on the Lakers this series. It’s a bold assertion given Draymond’s intensity and unchecked desire for winning, and he left no doubt about his fire on Wednesday.
Before the game, Warriors assistant coach Jacob Rubin issued Green a challenge, and he took it personally.
"Jacob Rubin told me before the game, ‘You played well, but I still haven’t felt your presence like I know your presence should be felt.’ That’s coming out aggressive, both ends of the floor, that’s verbally, so everyone hears you on the floor.
"I felt a little disrespected when he said that, so it was on me to come out and set the tone for our guys, come out aggressive," Green said with a smile. "Season’s on the line, back against the wall, you come out and gotta give everything you got."
Rubin usually sits right behind bench in the second row and is constantly engaged with the players during games. He pressed the right button with his pep talk before Wednesday's game.
Green finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists while taking on the challenge of trying to slow down Davis. AD got his numbers (25 points and nine rebounds in 32 minutes) but didn’t pop off, before exiting with a head injury with 7:34 left in the game after being knocked inadvertently by Kevon Looney.
Draymond left a few points at the rim with some missed layups, but was still efficient with a 7-for-11 night from the floor. He also knocked down 1-of-2 from 3-point land and went 5-of-5 from the line.
"When he’s aggressive and looking to attack, it definitely adds another dimension to our team," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "I loved his approach to the game tonight. He was aggressive right from the start.”
Gary Payton II said the Warriors feed off Draymond's energy when he's locked in like that. We've seen the surges before.
"That's Draymond being Draymond," Payton said. "As long as it don't get crazy, we all got his back, let him talk, try to keep the refs out of it and let him do what he does."
Green also put his coaching hat on and helped Kevon Looney with some pointers during a timeout in the fourth quarter.
Steph Curry led the Warriors with 27 points but didn’t have to do everything by himself on Wednesday. Andrew Wiggins scored 25 points with seven rebounds and five assists, while Payton received his second straight start and was a force on both ends with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting with six rebounds.
Golden State led by 11 entering the final period and didn't run into their usual fourth-quarter hiccups.
Though the Warriors didn’t want to publicly acknowledge it, a loss in Wednesday’s Game 6 could have been the final time Draymond suited up in a Golden State uniform. He holds a $27.6 million option for next season, which means he could hypothetically opt-out and pursue a multiyear deal elsewhere.
That’s still a possibility regardless of how this season plays out – but reading the tea leaves, Draymond will run it back this fall. During the Kings series, Draymond said, “We want to keep this thing going as long as we can.” Kerr and Steph Curry said they haven’t put any thought into the end days of the dynasty.
With games like Wednesday, you can see why.
"You just expect it in a situation like this where you’re facing elimination," Kerr said of Green's intensity. "Draymond is one the great competitors I’ve ever been around."
