While the Golden State Warriors have experienced some change over the past several months, one thing has remained the same: Draymond Green‘s inability to keep himself in check. He was at it again during the Warriors Friday night win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Eventually getting thrown out of the game, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins wasn’t happy about Green’s impact on the game and let it be known postgame.
Warriors Draymond Green Continues His Highly Suspect Play
Warriors Draymond Green Has Late Game Foul Upgraded
It was in the middle of the third quarter when Green fell to the floor in an attempt to drive to the basket. While on the floor, Green felt he had no other option but to drag someone else down with him and that someone was Zach Edey. The video replay clearly shows that Green squeezed tight enough on Edey’s ankle, forcing the 7-foot-4 big man to the ground. Suffice it to say, it was a dangerous play on Green’s part. Thankfully, Edey got up without any damage. Later in the fourth quarter, Green was issued two technical fouls, resulting in his exit from the game. Eventually, Green’s take down of Edey was upgraded to a flagrant 1.
The two techs given to Green were not the subject of conversation afterward, though, from the Grizzlies side. Instead, it was the play involving Green and Edey that Coach Jenkins appeared unhappy about.
“Overall, thought he [Zach Edey] was really good,” Jenkins said. “And very disappointing, there was that one play, we were about to start the break and he’s been playing really hard to try to outlet, and Draymond [Green] grabs his leg and pulls him down and it doesn’t get reviewed. So I know there’s a code in this league and I don’t understand how that wasn’t reviewed. Very disappointing.”
It certainly should have been reviewed, and Jenkins is right to be miffed about it. Green could have been tossed from the game at that point or at least issued a flagrant call.
Draymond Being Draymond
The Warriors defensive ace and team’s heartbeat is no stranger to suspect, dangerous, harmful, non-basketball plays. He swung at Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort‘s head just last week. Even if it was unintentional, it sure didn’t look good. Going back to last season’s sequences with Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert and Phoenix’s Jusuf Nurkic, Green has repeatedly cast a sour look on himself with unsportsmanlike conduct plays.
It should come as no surprise if Green receives a suspension at some point this season. Time will tell whether one comes after this latest involvement with Edey. Given the non-call on the floor, though, a suspension is unlikely. Nevertheless, Green has to check himself. The Warriors are having a good season so far, and if he is out of the lineup due to a mistake on the floor, it has the potential to affect the Warriors negatively. Green remains a catalyst for Golden State, even in these later years of his career. Having said that, we’ve reached the point where we should expect Green to lose his cool on the court and be more of a letdown to his team rather than a benefit. And that is unfortunate for someone as great as he is.
