For Golden State Warriors fans, Draymond Green has always been somewhat of a cult figure. Known for his energy, defence and hustle, Green has been a consistent role player for the Warriors. Fast forward to this season, the 2012 35th overall pick from Michigan State is putting up career best numbers and is a key part to the Warriors’ current success.
[image src=’http://fnx.network/fnxnetwork/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/3261471149_0977744c3e_z.jpg’ width=‘458’ height=’400′ title=‘Source:David Giard,Flickr’ align=’left’]Coming into the 2014/15 season, there was quite a bit of talk around Green. He was coming off of a great seven game series against the LA Clippers in the 2013/14 Playoffs, he had dropped about 20 pounds and with the loss of David Lee, Green would be seeing a lot more game time. With career high averages in almost every category, it’s fair to say that he has exceeded nearly all expectations. In a league where that stretch four position has become so important for so many teams, Draymond has stepped up and provided not only the defensive hustle that he is known for, but has become a “Splash Step Brother” to compliment Steph Curry and Klay Thompson around the arc. At times he can be one of those “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!” type players, but overall the energy that he brings to the court is infectious and when he is firing, the Warriors are too. While he is hitting nearly two shots from deep per game, his scrapping style and “no fuss” get to the basket mentality has seen him be a valuable contributor to the Warriors this season. Known mainly for his defence in previous years, Draymond is yet again providing that clamp down style which gets under the skin of opposition players. You only have to ask Blake Griffin!
Of course, one of the biggest dilemmas surrounding Green and the Warriors is the question of rotations once David Lee is back in the squad. While it’s not exactly a bad problem to have, it does create the potential to upset the Warriors current record if the correct rotations aren’t selected. We’ve already seen a similar rotation change with Andre Iguodala stepping aside to come off the bench, allowing Harrison Barnes to have the starting SF role. I go by the old theory “if ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, and to me the Warriors are far from broken right now with their current 21-2 record. Whether David Lee would accept coming off the bench is one thing, but having him do so would create a massive headache for opposing coaches and adds to the already dangerous fire power that is the Warriors depth.
Now in his third and final year of his Rookie contract, Green is hitting his straps at the right time. The question is, will the Warriors be able to find room in their salary down the track to keep this squad together, or will the lure of big money elsewhere be the draw card for this former role player?
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Banner Image Credit: Derrick Story, Flickr
Story Image Credit: David Giard, Flickr
