Warriors star Draymond Green made an impact in Game 4 despite continuing to struggle with his scoring, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports writes. Green has averaged 4.3 points per game against the defensive-minded Celtics these Finals, scoring only two points on Friday and receiving more criticism from some fans.
What tends to go unnoticed is the impact Green made this season and in Game 4 despite his lackluster scoring. Green recorded seven rebounds, eight assists and four steals in the contest, helping the Warriors save points on the defensive end throughout the game.
When you factor in Green’s assists, he was responsible for roughly 20 points in the game. He averaged 7.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists per outing this season, so he was responsible for even more points then — and that doesn’t include passes leading to free throws and more.
Here are some other notes out of Golden State:
- Head coach Steve Kerr subbed Green out as Boston went on a fourth-quarter run last game, David Aldridge of The Athletic notes. Green was replaced by Kevon Looney at the 7:32 mark. Kerr re-inserted Green at the 3:41 mark, who then made some key plays down the stretch. Aldridge contends that Kerr’s gamble paid off — and when it happens during the NBA Finals, it’s often a matter of trust.
- Stephen Curry showed how championships are won with an electric performance last game, Jared Weiss of The Athletic writes. Curry finished with 43 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, helping the Warriors avoid a 3-1 deficit. The team now has home-court advantage in a best-of-three series.
- Rookie forward Jonathan Kuminga is a risky option against these Celtics, but it may be necessary down the stretch, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic writes. Kawakami’s article was published before Golden State’s win, but Kuminga could still be used before the series ends.
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