Dynamic forward Draymond Green is ready for the challenge that lies ahead for the Golden State Warriors.
Just ask him.
The Warriors forward spoke at length about the pressure of bouncing back after a Game 3 loss to the visiting Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
“I think when you’re hit with a little adversity, whether it’s being down 2-1 or whether it’s being down 17 or 12 or whatever it is, your true colors show,” the Michigan State product told reporters on Thursday, a practice day in Oakland, California. “I think that’s just kind of the makeup of us, that’s our DNA. Our backs are against the wall, we continue to fight. We have a lot of firepower. So all of a sudden we continue to fight, and then we go on a run. Some teams, they don’t handle that situation well.
“You got to give them a lot of credit last night. It kept feeling like that run was right there. (Raptors coach) Nick Nurse took some key timeouts (in Game 3), and their guys answered every time we started to make a push.”
The 29-year-old added: “So you got to give them a lot of credit. But I just think our best basketball is usually played when our backs are against the wall, whether that’s in a series, whether that’s in one particular game.”
Draymond Green, in his seventh season with Golden State, has impressed coach Steve Kerr with his focus during the ongoing postseason.
A few weeks ago, according to The Associated Press, Kerr made these remarks about Green: “I mean, I think that’s been really obvious over the last couple of weeks, and I think it’s important because, when he gets upset and emotional, it costs us. We lose our focus as a team. I mean, he’s our leader.”
The do-it-all veteran is averaging 13.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks this postseason. And he’s appeared in all 19 Warriors playoff games.
Game No. 20, on Friday night, is, of course, a huge one for Draymond Green and the two-time defending champions.
