The Golden State Warriors find themselves in an unfamiliar position as they head back to their home court at Chase Center down 0-2 in the playoff series against the Sacramento Kings. The Warriors have yet to win a game at the Golden 1 Center in these playoffs, and this is the first time in Stephen Curry’s career that he has gone down 0-2 in the playoffs. Beyond the match, Damian Lillard defending Warriors’ Draymond Green after ejection is now the talk of the town to the NBA Community.
In Game 2, Draymond Green made headlines for all the wrong reasons. In the fourth quarter, after Domantas Sabonis grabbed Green’s leg, the former Defensive Player of the Year retaliated by stomping on Sabonis’s mid-section. Green was given a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the game, while Sabonis was assessed a technical foul for his initial grab. During the wait to hear what foul he was given, Green stirred up drama with Kings fans, calling them derogatory names.
Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Damian Lillard, who has faced off against Green in multiple playoff series, weighed in on the incident. Lillard and Green are actually quite close off the court, having bonded during the previous Olympics. Lillard suggested that Green’s balance was off due to Sabonis’s initial grab and that Green had no other choice but to step on him. He also claimed that Sabonis took a take foul on the play that wasn’t taken into consideration.
“Take foul on Sabonis … I didn’t think Dray tried to step down … that’s just how his balance ended up” Lillard stated.
While Green’s balance did seem off, he clearly had the intent to stomp on Sabonis. His foot did not slide off Sabonis’s chest/mid-section; rather, he bent his knee and deliberately hit him in the area. It’s possible that both things can be true at once – Green may have lost his balance due to Sabonis’s grab, and in anger, he could have looked to stomp on him.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Sabonis is undergoing X-rays on his ribs and lungs following the Game 2 win. The incident has sparked controversy and debate, with some defending Green’s actions and others calling for a suspension. As the Warriors head back to their home court, they’ll need to regroup and come together as a team to try to turn the series around.
The Unbreakable Bond: Damian Lillard and Draymond Green’s Friendship
Damian Lillard and Draymond Green are known to be good friends off the court. Lillard has reportedly urged the Portland Trail Blazers front office to make an addition to the roster to bolster their defensive edge. Draymond Green can a be a good fit for this role.
Portland has struggled with defensive solidity over the last few years, and their ranking of 13th in the west this season highlights their need to improve in that area. Lillard has come under attack for his defense, and players like Jusuf Nurkic haven’t been good enough to compete.
Lillard’s opinion goes a long way with the Blazers’ front office, and as the face of the franchise, he has the ability to lead the team to another Western Conference finals. With Green’s veteran presence and his defensive prowess, he could be the perfect fit to fill the power forward role that has been vacant.
