Brandin Podziemski said Draymond Green’s ejection helped spark the Golden State Warriors in their 116-113 win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday, November 2. The Warriors guard said the incident gave the team an edge it had been missing early in the game.
“I loved it. It fueled our team,” Podziemski said after scoring 20 points. “We didn’t have that edge to us to start the game. Found it a little bit in the second quarter, but then they came out in the third quarter pretty well and then that kind of changed the game for us.”
Green was ejected two minutes into the third quarter after receiving consecutive technical fouls following an altercation with Phoenix center Khaman Maluach and Dillon Brooks. Podziemski said the Warriors responded by becoming more connected defensively.
“Everybody locked in a little bit more and came together for Dre,” he said. “I think it was needed and I maybe he sensed it, maybe he didn’t, but it helped us.”
Golden State tightened its defense after Green left the game, holding Phoenix to 20 points in the fourth quarter. Podziemski, however, rejected the idea that the Warriors were better defensively without their veteran forward.
“I think it’s a one-off. Dre’s still our best defender. He’s still the team’s defensive anchor. Still one of the best in the league at it,” Podziemski said. “I think his ejection just kind of ramped it up for us a little bit.”
The 23-year-old added that every player took responsibility for the defensive improvement.
“We all kind of just took it personally, each individual, and we just really locked in on what we could control,” Podziemski said. “We stepped up when we needed to make plays.”
Podziemski also discussed his growing confidence, crediting the trust shown by his teammates and coaches.
“I feel like there’s an at-easiness because there’s a trust and a belief from my teammates, coaches, that I can play at a high level,” he said. “When you have that, you can relax a little bit in your mind and just go out there and be free and play.”
The Warriors have won five consecutive games after opening the season 0-3. They improved to 5-3 with Monday’s victory, while the Suns fell to 1-4.
Golden State will host the Miami Heat on Thursday, November 5.
