There was surprise and anger when the Warriors learned about Draymond Green‘s suspension for Game 3 of their playoff series with the Kings, ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on his latest podcast (hat tip to RealGM).
Green will be forced to sit out Thursday’s game for stepping on Domantas Sabonis while he was lying on the court during the fourth quarter of Game 2. Green was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and was ejected after spending several minutes inciting the Sacramento crowd during a review of the play.
NBA vice president and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars explained on Wednesday that Green’s status as a “repeat offender” factored into the decision to impose a suspension without pay, rather than just a fine. Dumars also cited “excessive and over-the-top actions” and “conduct detrimental (to the league).”
Lowe adds that part of the Warriors’ frustration with the ruling is their feeling that Sabonis has been allowed to be overly physical in the first two games of the series. Golden State players and coaches believe that referees are permitting him to get away with too much, which is why Green reacted in the way that he did.
“There’s a sense in the organization that Sabonis is shoving people on offensive rebounds and playing with his elbows out and using the ball as a weapon on offense,” Lowe said. “So, ‘Of course someone eventually retaliated.’ You can give that any validity you want.”
Speaking today with reporters, coach Steve Kerr admitted being “extremely surprised” by the suspension, tweets Kendra Andrews of ESPN. Green addressed the team during today’s practice, Andrews adds, but Kerr declined to reveal any details (Twitter link).
“There’s no time to spend worrying about it … it doesn’t matter,” Kerr said about the suspension. “We know what the league decided to do and we have to respond accordingly.”
The NBA does not want back to back champions so fans in all markets stay interested. The Warriors shoot 50% of the free throws the opposing team shoots nightly, and Curry gets killed out there. It’s been wild this season.
Conspiracy Theories are fun.
Damn warriors haters coming out strong. Stay salty my friends
Apparently the Warriors don’t want back to back champions either.
Let’s also totally forget the fact the Warriors haven’t looked elite all year but yeah….let’s make up stuff to cry about.
Except the Looney-Dray-Wiggins-Klay-Steph lineup had far and away the best +/- out of any other 5. Add to that Kuminga, Poole etc etc…
This is the wildest conspiracy theory I’ve heard today, and it’s real easy to poke holes in. As much as many fans hate dynasties, they’re great for tv ratings. People tune in to either watch them win or root for them to lose. The last thing the league wants is to sabotage that.
You sure know ball, unlike many on here.
Warriors have been dog mess all year
Yeah, it’s called the next CBA.
I doubt this year’s Warriors are even on the league’s radar. They’re simply not good enough to warrant wild conspiracy theories. Take off the fan blinders.
Its not a stepping, its a Stone Cold stomping. You can watch all the slow mo videos out there, where Green looked at Sabonis and with a grit of teeth before the Stone Cold stomping to Sabonis chest.
He was really happy with his actions.
He’s had quite a large offering of groin shots over his career also.
Guy was down & to make sure bad guy stomps him again. Green should be gone for good. Tired of his crap.
color me shocked also. shud have been more
Cry harder
Draymond Green is simply the dirtiest player and the NBA had enough. Watch how he almost ended Kahwi career. Blinded Kobe,Lebron, Jokic and Harden.
link to youtu.be
Don’t forget Adams and Clarke.
Thanks for the you tube! What a dirt bag!
He did something wrong by stomping him then he made jesters to the crowd. Now he could have been smart and apologized at the press conference after the game but didn’t. He has gotta be smart and realize these are important games, plus it doesn’t matter what the other guy is doing even if it’s wrong. Better learn to get himself under control because eventually it could spill over into his personal life. Tired of people in this world of making excuses for people.
Yeah, I’m no fan of Draymond, but I think it was the unapologetic nature after the fact that got him the suspension.
I’d say when u dirty stomp a guy when he’s down it doesn’t matter what u do or say afterwards. We know who u are. U should be gone for good.
Always fun when the haters come out to play.
Also fun when people comment about commenters.
Just as soon they don’t suspend him. No excuses. If the Kings beat the Warriors, it’s at close to full strength. If we don’t, we’re not ready. Yet.
The Warriors have to put out these statements…
They might get punched if they don’t…
By Draymond!!!
I’m a Warriors fan and there’s no excuse for Draymond’s stomp. We started the season with him punching Poole in the mouth – time to move on. Also, it’s insulting for him to blame the stomp on being clumsy – that’s a pathetic lie that everyone sees through.
He’s a great player, brilliant basketball mind, smart, funny, clearly loves his children but there’s that dark side as well. I hope he gets some help.
Agreed, the oddest thing is that he peppers in all this awful stuff right next to being the greatest guy ever off the court. Like…why? He does know better. Mental illness maybe?
He deserves it
Headline should have began with “Stupid, Obtuse Warriors…”
It’s just Kerr who has ruined this team. If GSW signed Lue to coach in 2014 they would have 6 titles right now. Kerr got outcoached by everyone ever, every win was simply due to Curry showing out and bailing out Kerr’s moronic roster use. Why TF was he using the 2-way scrubs in the starting lineup and giving them starter minutes? Lamb and Jerome are marginal talents who should have never played in anything other than garbage time. Moody, Wiseman, Kuminga and Baldwin all lost development this year due only to Kerr being a moron and playing the 2-way scrubs over them to lose games BECAUSE he played 2-way players too long.
I’d give Lowe’s proposition zero validity. If I gave it any, then I’d lose all respect for GSW as an orgnaization. Retailiation for overly physical play (by an opponent) is overly physical play (by your side). Not stomping on someone’s chest and taunting the crowd over it. Normalize what Green did, and then I imagine someone in another locker room is going to believe it’s “only a matter of time” until one of their guys “retaliates” by breaking a chair over his head.
The league literally said Draymond’s status as a repeat factor played a role in the suspension. So, from that perspective, it’s definitely fair.
Should of got a real center instead of j Green at 6’8 and another guard after guard
DG is overrated. I knew the GSW wouldn’t miss him and they went out and destroyed the Kings in game 3 without him. The reality is that the GSW have the most underrated center in the NBA in Kevon Looney. He’s a big reason they beat the Celtics in the Finals. Looney is all a team needs in a modern NBA big – elite DRB% and an elite playmaker. His blocks and steals are a bonus. DG was an elite big, but has declined over the years. Now he’s around because of his lingering huge contract.
The GSW is the smartest team in the NBA. No other team drafts as well as the Warriors. I say this as a Celtics fan. Another reason the Cs lost in the finals was the 2019 NBA draft. The Cs passed on the player I wanted twice. He wound up with GS at 28. Jordan Poole killed the Cs off the bench. I expect the Warriors to win the next 3 games. The Kings are weak at making 3s and that’s what today’s NBA is all about.