Though Klay Thompson’s hot shooting was their primary catalyst, Steve Kerr can’t be more delighted from the huge revelation that JaMychal Green delivered when they needed him the most to eventually split their Conference Semis set against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.
The fact that Green wasn’t able to gain ample playing time from him last regular season due to injuries, Kerr is nothing but happy that the veteran stood up ready for the challenge and opportunity to perform in the must-win Game 2.
“Number one, I’m just proud of J-Mike. It’s been a tough year for him for a lot of reasons. … I didn’t play him a whole lot and he just stayed ready,” Kerr said in his postgame presser. “He took advantage of his opportunity and this seemed like a series for him just what the way the Lakers are playing us defensively.
“I couldn’t be happier for J-Mike. He’s really earned this by just staying positive and staying ready.”
With Kevon Looney enduring an illness, Kerr relied and plugged Green as a starting unit, who had a lowly 1.8 points average in 5.8 minutes and appeared in just four games of their grinding seven-game set against the Sacramento Kings last first-round.
Amid this unexpected move, the veteran seized the chance and played a major role on both ends of the floor for the Dubs, finishing with a consistent 15 points and sank three treys in over 12 minutes of play. He was also pivotal in containing Anthony Davis who dominated in last Game 1 victory of the Lakers, as the superstar just finished the match with an unaggressive 11 points and seven boards in 5-of-11 shooting.
After being just limited to 57 regular season games as he fought unavailabilities due to wrist and lower leg issues, the 32-year-old Green is ecstatic to demonstrate his worth for the defending champs as he maintained himself ready and prepared for a potential call-up.
“It feels good to be able to do this after the year I had. It’s been rough one. I haven’t been through nothing like this before, but I just feel like this is a year ago. I felt like I get through this, I’ll get through anything,” said Green.
“So [I] just want to thank God for keeping me with it and just staying ready. Glad I played well, I’ve been waiting on this moment and I just want to show that I could help. I’m here to help the team and so it was just being staying ready.”
After a 127-100 dominant victory over the Lakers, Green and the Warriors will look to steal the home court back to themselves as the series shifts to Los Angeles starting in Friday for Game 3.
