Warriors star Draymond Green did not hold back on Instagram this week after Shawn Marion, a 16-year league veteran and 4x All-Star, tried to make the case that he was a better defender. In a short statement on social media, Green explained why Marion’s take was just plain wrong.
“Brother I guarded Jalen Brunson and Jaylen Brown back-to-back series,” wrote Green.
The comment is a reference to the 2022 playoffs, when the Warriors won their fourth and most recent championship in the “Splash Bros” era—a championship that Green played a huge part in. That year, the Warriors finished third in the Western Conference, with a 53-29 record. While not as dominantly won as some of the other titles, the 2022 championship run is often considered by many to be the most impressive of them all.
In the first round they easily handled a short-handed Nuggets team, who had no chance of keeping up without Jamal Murray. They moved on to face the Memphis Grizzlies in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Even with Ja Morant leading a tough resistance, the Warriors were still able to close out the series in six games.
Against the Mavericks in the Conference Finals, the Warriors faced a serious challenge, slowing down Luka Docic and Jalen Brunson. The former Mavericks point guard averaged 18.0 points per game in that series, but Draymond was still making his impact felt, limiting what had been a red-hot stretch for him. Green was crucial for the Warriors defensively, and his pressure on Brunson down the stretch helped to put the Mavericks away for good.
Coming into the 2022 Finals against Boston, the Warriors were already heavily favored to win the series, but they tightened their grip after going down 2-1. The Celtics never crossed 100 points again in the series, and Jaylen Brown was held to 43% shooting from the field.
Critics still debate how big of a role Draymond played in that run, but his defense alone is more than enough to make his impact felt. For Green, there’s been nobody better than him when it comes to playing consistently great defense in the NBA, and it’s hard to argue with the results. Sadly, his recent scandals make it hard for anyone to focus on his game right now.
Draymond’s Future Is Under Doubt
Draymond, a 4x All-Star, continues to prove his worth on the court this season when he’s played, but he always seems to find a way to get himself kicked out of games.
Earlier this season, Draymond was suspended indefinitely following a series of repeat offenses that caught the attention of the league. As recently as last week, Green went viral for getting tossed two minutes into a game for arguing with officials. At only 49 games played this season, Draymond’s antics have cost him some significant playing time, and it’s hurting that the Warriors do not have their best defender out there for such a large chunk of their games.
And while the Warriors still have strong faith in the “big three,” their patience with No. 23 will surely not last much longer, given what’s at stake for the Warriors right now. With a payroll totaling over $206 million this season alone, the Warriors are paying to win now, and Green’s continued outbursts threaten to disrupt the entire process. Even worse, at 34 years old, the window is closing out for Draymond and his co-stars to add more hardware to their trophy case.
For now, with no alternatives to consider in the way of a versatile, All-NBA defender, the Warriors have no choice but to trust Draymond to get himself under control so they can finally get back on track and play like the Warriors of old.
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