Draymond Green’s actions confirm Warriors in trouble

The Golden State Warriors are in serious trouble against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Western Conference Finals. Don’t believe me? Just watch Warriors forward Draymond Green’s actions in Game 3 when he kicked Thunder center Steven Adams, intentionally or otherwise.

Green was assessed a flagrant foul for his kick to the groin of Adams, who crumbled to the ground in pain before rejoining his teammates in their collective beatdown of Golden State. At one point, the Thunder held a 41-point lead on the Warriors, a team that enjoyed a single-season record of 73-9.

Luckily for the Warriors, Green is not getting suspended for Game 4 but has been fined. Golden State needs all hands on deck at this juncture, with the team being tested to the limits. For most of the year, it has seemed a foregone conclusion that the Warriors would roll to a second consecutive championship, but that is certainly in doubt now with the Thunder playing excellent basketball.

The major concern isn’t being down 2-1 in the series, but the manner in which Golden State is playing. Green’s kick was deemed unintentional, although you could gather a different take from watching the video. The action almost seemed a move out of both anger and frustration, with the Warriors not being able to get their way for the first time all season. For Green’s part, he states that it wasn’t purposeful, and referee Scott Foster agreed. Per ESPN:

“I said, ‘Scott, how am I getting a flagrant because my leg went in the air trying to follow through on a shot?’ He said, ‘Draymond, I’m not saying it’s intentional. Honestly, I don’t think it was intentional at all. But you caught him in the groin area, so I have to give you a flagrant,'” Green said. “I didn’t argue it. It said, ‘OK, that’s understandable.'”

While Golden State was down last year against the Memphis Grizzlies in the conference finals by a 2-1 margin, it felt different. Memphis was barely holding on and holding the Warriors to low scoring totals, something that could not be continued for a full seven-game series. This time around, Oklahoma City is simply dominating on the glass with its trio of big men in Enes Kanter, Serge Ibaka and Adams.

Whether or not the Warriors can figure out how to deal with Billy Donovan’s charges remains to be seen. Golden State has the talent to win three games against Oklahoma City and make all of this a memory, but it won’t be easy. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are playing superbly. Stephen Curry is scoring but making mental errors, while Green seems lost against the bigger lineup of the Thunder.

Game 4 will be a turning point one way or the other for a Warriors team desperate to right its wrongs.