Draymond Green has to walk a fine line moving forward in playoffs

There aren't many players who toe the line between competitive and aggressive better than Draymond Green. The Golden State Warriors veteran is a master of working in the gray areas of basketball's rulebook. 

However, on occasion, Green can step over the line. On Thursday, Green picked up his fifth technical foul of the season as the Warriors fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in game two of the Western Conference semifinals. 

Green will now receive a $4,000 fine and a warning letter from the NBA. According to the league rule book, Green is just two technical fouls away from receiving an automatic one-game suspension.

“He's gonna have to be careful now,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said during his postgame news conference. “...It's part of Draymond. The same thing that makes him such a competitor and winner puts him over the top sometimes. We know that. It's our job to try and help him stay poised… Occasionally, he goes over the line.”

Golden State is already without Stephen Curry. The All-Star guard is dealing with a grade one sprain to his left hamstring. As such, Green's presence within the rotation is essential to Golden State's chances of navigating a tough series against Minnesota. 

If Green picks up another technical foul, he will once again be fined $4,000 and receive a warning letter. However, at that point, the way he approaches the game would have to change, and that could hinder the Warriors' chances of success.

Green is a generational defensive talent. He reads the game better than most and is a high-level leader for his team. The Warriors can't afford for him to be sidelined, even for one game. Therefore, Green must keep himself in check and stick to the edges of the rule book, which is where he thrives anyway. 

The Warriors are tied 1-1 with the Timberwolves. They need to keep treading water until Curry is back. Green can help them do that. But only if he's on the court. He would be wise to listen to Kerr's advice if he wants his season to continue beyond the second round.