Draymond Green is widely regarded as the heart and soul of the Warriors organization. For over a decade, he has been a constant anchor of the Warriors’ defense and their emotional engine.
At times, though, the very thing that makes Green such a fierce competitor is what is detrimental to his team.
In the midst of an underwhelming season for both Green and the Dubs, the Saginaw native has found himself at the center of criticism.
Green’s Decline
Green’s claim to fame in the NBA is his tough defense and high IQ. His scoring numbers have never leaped off the stat sheet, which wasn’t as problematic in years past because of the exceptional talent surrounding him.
The Warriors no longer have a star-studded roster that can sleepwalk into easy wins.
His offensive deficiencies are more magnified than ever on a roster starving for scoring and shooting.
Green is averaging his highest number of fouls per game in the last six years while also averaging his most turnovers since the 2015-16 season. His steals and assists numbers have also tumbled, hitting record lows since his rookie year and the 2014-15 season, respectively. His defensive presence isn’t enough to compensate for his tame scoring output of 8.1 points per game on just 40.9% from the field.
Moreover, he is the only player in the league who has racked up more fouls and turnovers (individually) than field goals.
The Warriors are already a naturally high-turnover team. His carelessness with the ball this season has been on display much more than in previous years. In their December 14 matchup against the Trailblazers, Green accounted for eight of the squad’s 18 giveaways.
Team Impact
The topic of Green’s impact on the team is made more interesting by the team staying afloat when he isn’t playing.
In the Warriors’ game against Phoenix Saturday, the team found themselves in a 46-37 hole when Green was ejected. Following his ejection, the team was able to snatch the lead and come away with the clutch victory. The win was due in part to Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinten Post steadying the ship at the center position.
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The Warriors have historically employed a heavy small-ball system, often placing Green at the five. The team’s small lineups highlight the lack of size and rebounding, leaving the team vulnerable to sloppy passes and missed second chance opportunities.
Not only do the Warriors give up size and rebounding when going small, but the spacing on the floor drastically shrinks. Because Green isn’t a scoring/shooting threat, teams can sag off of him and load up on Curry or Butler.
Monday night’s victory versus the Orlando Magic added more questions about Green’s importance to the team. During a timeout. After the start of the quarter, cameras caught him and Steve Kerr engaging in a contentious argument. He then left for the locker room but later returned to the bench; Green was never inserted back in the game. The Warriors proceeded to rattle off a 40-18 run with him watching from the sidelines.
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Green himself chose to walk back to the locker room; he wasn’t forced there. As someone whose flared tempers often end in team implosions and ejections, he needed to cool down.
Neither Kerr nor Green went in-depth about the specifics of the argument, but both don’t believe it will be a problem long-term.
Do the Warriors Need Him
The Warriors can’t afford to falter both offensively and in the turnover category, given that they rank just 20th in offensive rating. While Green’s defense can be beneficial to the Warriors, his on-court and off-court struggles may have caught up to the team. Throughout his 14-year career as a professional, regulating his emotions and controlling his temper have been recurring issues. Most importantly, his behavior has cost them a myriad of games and opportunities.
At this late in Green, Curry, and Jimmy Butler’s careers, there is no time to waste. With the trade deadline slowly approaching, Green could be on the hot seat.
Green’s best assets are his defense and ability to play off of Curry. Their chemistry and relationship can’t be replaced, which is what makes the two of them better together than apart.
Now the question: Is that enough for the Warriors to hold on to him?
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