In Game 1 of the Western Conference semis, Anthony Davis put up 30 points and 23 rebounds, the first 30–20 game by a Laker in the postseason since Shaquille O’Neal. In Game 2, Davis scored only 11 points and grabbed just seven boards in a 27-point loss. The biggest reason why? Draymond Green.
The Warriors cruised to a victory in Game 2, sending the series back to Los Angeles knotted up at one game apiece. There were a few keys to their success in their Thursday-night victory, including a hot shooting night from Klay Thompson and struggles from some of the Lakers’ role players. Arguably, nobody had a bigger impact on the game than Green, however, who displayed his championship brilliance on both ends of the floor.
For starters—literally—Green’s individual capabilities allowed Steve Kerr to tinker with his starting lineup for Game 2. JaMychal Green got the nod over Kevon Looney on Thursday, giving the Dubs more shooting in their opening five. The gambit paid off, as J-Myke hit three threes in his 13 minutes of action. That adjustment is only made possible by the existence of someone like Draymond, who, despite his 6'6" frame, is still able to match up with practically any big man in the NBA. In Game 2, the task for Green was to slow down AD, who was far and away the best player on the floor to begin the series.
And Draymond responded with aplomb. He guarded Davis for much longer than he did in Game 1, and helped restrict AD to only 5-of-11 shooting from the field. Davis never looked comfortable all night, struggling to get to his spots as Green seemingly defended him from inside his jersey. Stephen Curry’s unbelievable offensive talent is obviously the biggest driving factor in Golden State’s dynastic run over the past 8 years. But don’t discount Draymond’s defense in terms of importance. How many teams can throw a 6'6" player on Anthony Davis and credibly expect them to shut him down? And because Green can succeed defensively in such difficult matchups, it allows the Warriors to be even better on the offensive end.
We saw that in Game 2 as well. Kerr’s adjustment wasn’t only limited to starting a shooter next to Draymond. He basically excised all lineups that had two nonshooters on the floor. After playing 16 minutes next to Looney in Game 1, Green played only one minute with him in Game 2. The result was an even more effective offensive attack. Green’s pick-and-roll chemistry with Curry was on full display Thursday. The Dubs leaned on the action a little more than they did in Game 1, forcing Davis to cover more ground defensively.
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The Lakers were scrambling on defense all night. And without a second nonshooter on the floor, Los Angeles couldn’t pack the paint as effectively. After settling for a bunch of midrange looks in Game 1, the Warriors had 48 points in the paint Thursday—20 more than Tuesday—because of the extra space on the floor. Space that isn’t possible if Green can’t hold up defensively on the other end. Draymond’s own offensive aggression helped as well, as he looked for his shot when the Lakers gave him gobs of space. He finished with 11 points—as many as Davis—11 rebounds, and nine assists.
This postseason has already been a little bit of a roller coaster ride for Green. His suspension in the opening round after his stomp on Domantas Sabonis was a low point in a career scattered with moments that crossed the line. He also had a massive 21-point outing in a crucial Game 5 that series, and now his stellar performance against Davis, who was coming off one of his best playoff games ever. As exhausting as the Green experience can be at times, he is integral to the Warriors’ success. There’s a lot of basketball still to be played, but if Golden State is going to knock out the Lakers, Draymond will be a big reason why.
