Warriors’ Draymond Green doesn’t think he should have been ejected in Game 2
There were a lot of talking points after the Warriors blowout win over the Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA finals, but perhaps the most significant one was whether or not Draymond Green should have remained in the game.
With many saying the Warriors’ power forward should have been ejected from the game on Sunday night, it was really only a matter of time before the big man responded.
Was Draymond Green lucky not to be ejected from Game 2?
While the debate about whether or not the Golden State Warriors should have played the second half of the game on Sunday night without Draymond Green continues, the man himself has wasted no time in responding to those who think he shouldn’t have been allowed to continue. Green, who picked up a technical foul in the first quarter of Game 2 at the Chase Center,after an altercation with Grant Williams, then found himself at the mercy of the referee when he got into a spat with Celtics star Jaylen Brown in the third quarter. For the Celtics fans who were present and those who reacted online after, it was nothing short of unbelievable that Green was not called for a second technical foul and with that, ejected from the game. Green of course was in total agreement with the decision and even went on to say that he’s earned the benefit of the doubt having accumulated 10 NBA seasons under his belt.
“Not at all,” Green said during an interview following the game when asked if he was surprised that he didn’t get a second technical foul. “It’s the NBA Finals. Like I said, I wear my badge of honor. It’s not that I’m saying they necessarily treat me different. I’ve earned differential treatment. I enjoy that. I embrace that. But I’m never gonna let someone stand over me. I’m a man first. My kids are in the stands. I don’t play those types of games. So, whatever happens at that point happens.” Needless to say the Celtics’ Brown saw the play very differently, saying that Green “tried to pull (his) pants down” which is why he felt the need to react in the way he did. Celtics’ coach Ime Udoka added his take saying that he believe it was “circumstances which saw Green remain in the game.
Draymond Green has his say
Never one to be shy, Green was maintained his belief that no line had been crossed. “The reality is, that makes sense,” Green said on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.” “Nobody’s paying to watch guys get thrown out of the game and you not see the game you want to watch. So, I understand and agree. Yes, if there’s something egregious, I’m gonna get thrown out. As we know, nobody’s sparing me. Nor do I expect to get spared, nor do I want to be spared. But if it’s something that’s not egregious, probably shouldn’t get thrown out of a game.”
The infamous reputation of Draymond Green
If there is on thing that Green is known for it’s being one of the ‘best’ instigators in the NBA. This isn’t the first time and it certainly won’t be the last time that he’s walked the fine line between physicality and illegality in the game. Indeed, it was Green that led the way in Game 2 with his ‘hands on’ approach as he became the central reason why the Warriors were able to force the Celtics into 18 turnovers before claiming a crushing 107-88 win over the Celtics.
While some will point to the idea that had Green been ejected in the second quarter the game would have ended differently, the reality is he wasn’t and it didn’t. When all is said and done Green turned up the heat on the Celtics and they seemingly couldn’t take it. “I don’t play the game worried about getting thrown out or not,” Green added. “I play the game chasing the level of physicality I want the game to be at. And however you get that done, you get that done.”