The Warriors currently hold the 10th seed in the Western Conference standings with a record of 28-27. If the season ended today, they’d have to win two play-in games just to claim the No. 8 playoff spot.
However, Golden State’s trade deadline acquisition of Jimmy Butler has emboldened Draymond Green, who said during Sunday’s All-Star broadcast as a TNT panelist that he expects to win his fifth NBA title this spring.
“Since (Butler)’s been here, we’ve walked into every game thinking and believing that we’re going to win that game,” Green said (Twitter video link). “And that goes a long way in this league. When you walk in the game like, ‘Ah man, we’re probably gonna lose this game,’ it’s not good. He’s brought back that belief. And I think we’re going to win the championship.”
Asked to repeat that last part, Green continued, “I’m sorry, I said, ‘I think we’re going to win the championship,’ but I lied.’ We are going to win the championship.”
As Sam Amick of The Athletic writes, Green was simply going public with a belief that he had been expressing frequently behind the scenes in recent days. Green told Amick shortly after reporting to All-Star weekend on Friday that Golden State is “absolutely” going to win a championship this year, and he said the same thing to Warriors owner Joe Lacob last week, Amick adds.
Certainly, the Warriors have looked like a more dangerous team since Butler’s arrival, winning three of four road games heading into the All-Star break, including victories in Milwaukee and Houston. They still have plenty of work to do to even secure a playoff spot, but All-Star guard Stephen Curry didn’t balk upon hearing about his teammate’s proclamation.
“We love pressure, we love expectations,” Curry said during an interview on the TNT telecast when asked about Green’s comments (Twitter video link). “He knows that. He’s smart, he knows what he’s saying.”
Curry delivered a similar message during his post-game press conference (Twitter video link): “I’m excited. I got Draymond on the telecast guaranteeing we’re winning a championship. I love expectations and having something to play for, so he’s lighting a fire for sure.
amusing
A lot of imaginations in the nba.
Typical examples are Charles Barkley Teams – Super teams
76ers – 11th seed
Suns – 11th seed
Is today April 1st ……. finally he has gone over to the other side. Delusional .
Draymond also announced he’d been offered the Warriors HC job, pending his retirement. That’s much more newsworthy, IMO.
Greymond forgets the core is 35 years old. Curry also needs to take his annual February 10 days off pretty soon so he can come back strong and rested.
Butler is no picture of an 82 game season either. So considering Green gets nicked up pretty often as well, if any of these three goes down it’s over.
So a Pretty bold statement, considering their age and injury histories.
This proclamation in front of the world on All Star weekend will be just another reason to laugh at Greymond after he hangs up his sneakers and we reflect on his legacy.
Wild how much you hate your own team Gary. Serious question: would you rather complete rebuild and playing unwatchable basketball for the next 3 years, ignoring that the window is still being held open by the 6-man youth unit of Moody, Kuminga, TJD, Podz, Santos and Post? Silly take. You can stop underrating Warriors players like Moody anytime, then you will see what Draymond (higher hoops IQ than you, and me and everyone) sees.
I am as optimistic as any Warriors fan the last 50 years. I can say that with a straight face and you read me here all the time and can confirm that fact if you’re paying attention.
But I also like to write about the realities of the NBA. I’m not going to make stuff up.., like say, Steph Curry will end up with eight rings or crazy predictions like that.
Do I believe they can win the championship this year? Oh yes, absolutely. Anything can happen now that they traded casual for mamba.
They sort of need one more big guy, but if Green could be Superman, they could get it done. He’ll need to be taken out on a stretcher when the finals are over, but the Dubs winning at all is very possible.
Reality is something that Davey does not believe in. You can quote me now that the Warriors are NOT winning the championship this season.
6’11” Kelly Olynyk fills this team out perfectlyyyy
GaryRedSoxxz said
> … will be just another reason to laugh at Greymond
> after he hangs up his sneakers and we reflect on his
> legacy.
Not so fast. Draymond announced yesterday that he’s been offered the Warriors head coaching job. The Draymond dynasty lives on!
Championship in what?
Just fighting instinct.
Draymond is a tiger. Butler is a lion.
It’s me, I am Draymond Green. Have been all along! Muhuhahaha!
Nah for real, if he sees it, its on the table. Jimmy is literally just shorter KD, especially at playoffs time. He has been sensational, and righted the Warriors ship from their now-annual Dec-Jan slump. As long as no one gets hurt (big ask), they’re going to the WCF at minimum.
Has the definition of “winning the championship” changed to losing in the play-in? If so, he’s correct.
If you don’t feel like you can win it all, you should retire.
Yeah, so you think Jordan Poole and Walker Kessler should feel that way? Or should they retire?
you can “feel like it” all you want. Just don’t say it out loud and let everyone know how delusional you are
Being delusional isn’t a requirement to play hard
Face it. The mental aspect of professional sports is probably more important than the physical. A lot of players have the physical skills. The hardest part is knowing what you can and can’t do,feeling like you belong, and feeling like you can succeed. That comes from the individual and informs team culture. If you don’t feel like you can win it all, why are you out there on the floor?
Agreed. Greymond has four rings in his pocket to back up his statement and give him pretty substantial credibility.
In other words, he’s been there and done that. I would say if there’s people who have license to make a statement like he did, he would be on that list.
Yeah that’s cool.
It’s also cool to make fun of people who say dumb things.
Hypothetically for Warriors to win the championship they need to get the 8 seed.
beat the Thunder because they go cold from three at the wrong time (they do sometimes)
Then beat a combination of JJJ, Luka, and Jokic
Or the rockets and clippers if they pull upsets.
Very difficult. I would not say impossible because this team looks way better with Jimmy Butler on it. They would not be a true 8 seed. More like a 4 or 5 seed.
The Warriors can be beaten by anybody but nobody should want to play the warriors.
I agree with your seeding possibilities. If you get on the one seed side of the bracket, you might be able to handle OKC and the four seed, but if you’re on the other side with the 2 seed AND the 3 seed that could be trouble.
The 2 teams they can’t beat are the Nuggets and the Cavs. So they will need to hope someone else knocks them out of the playoffs.
DEN has barely beaten them when they have, and have some of the worst injury risk. If the lose Joker for a series its over. MPJ and Jamal could both go down at any time between now and the end of the playoffs, and the team has some of the worst depth in case of injury to a main guy of any playoff teams.
My order of teams from best matchup to worst in a 7 game are.
Kings
Wolves
Rockets
Mavricks
Clippers
Memphis
Lakers
Nuggets
OKC
Injuries would change things and Lakers/Nuggets are probably the highest injury variance where if any of the 4 stars most of whom have bad injury histories are missing theyre just done.
I actually like the matchup with the Thunder and Rockets the best outside some of the obvious choices down at the bottom of the table like the Kings.
Every team that makes the real playoffs has a path. Its mostly a path through injuries. Like the Bucks should have made another finals if Giannis hadnt had some poorly timed injuries.
Warriors will get the 4 or 5 seed and win it all this year. No idea why you think their schedule which is 20 bad teams and 10 good teams will make them not gel and play even better?
They wouldn’t last more than 5 games in the Finals against Boston
They said that the last time the Warriors faced Boston in the finals. And that was not a decade ago either. In fact, it’s the same cast of characters for both sides plus or minus some recent additions.
But don’t get me wrong. Celtics are very very strong and should come out of the east.
In fact, my favorite backcourt in the whole league is white and holiday. Two of the most underrated players in the entire league in my opinion.
You seriously saying Steph/Jimmy/Dray wouldnt cook all teams in the playoffs right now? You dont know ball…
The ceiling of 2nd round exit – teams
Warriors
Clippers
Rockets
The ceiling of first round exit – teams
Suns
Kings
Wolves
OKC would smack the Warriors senseless in a playoff series.. Warriors should aim to get higher than eighth… West is so tight.. playoffs going to be great to watch
Draymond just trying to bring that positivity…
OKC is too SGA reliant. If He gets nicked up or misses some time they are finished.
In fact didn’t Alexander have 60 points or something the last time they played the Warriors two weeks ago.., and still lost…, at home?
The Warriors have beaten OKC twice.
There you go.
Warriors win the championship. It’s settled.
OKC are chokers who havent won a damn thing. Silence til you win, then get cocky. Til then, 2022=2025
Behind closed doors, I’m sure Jimmy Butler’s teammates all think he’s an entitled brat.
Perhaps so, but he’s possibly a perceived entitled brat that most anyone would be glad to be in a fox hole with when the going gets tough.
Besides, apart from the media and fan’s opinions of Greymond, behind closed doors ownership and management decided to give him four more years to stick around.
Anyone would want to be in a foxhole with him other than all his former teammates he bailed on.
I can assure you 100% you are wrong and they are happy he is there.
Cope more. You are wrong.
lol. No chance.
Oh dear…
I don’t think he is into guys.
Oscar Robertson was right, Draymond says lots of things. It’s good enthusiasm and Jimmy is a good fit.
Aww, Draymond is adorable.
Good point @aristotle – Draymond admitting the Warriors told him Kerr’s job is his whenever Draymond retires is huge news. Does this imply that there’s a plan in place for Kerr to retire exactly when Draymond does?
Off Topic @hoopsrumors – can you slap the processor or something so @aristotle and I stop showing each others accounts as muted on each other? He is not on my mute list and I am not on his, yet both our accounts are showing muted on each other. Gracias.
Just counted: there’s 20 my mute list, lol worth every penny, love this place now!
Draymond was working OT on trying to get another media job. TNT no longer having the major games likely means his deal is cut. He was being extra the whole night.
Yeah, the G League one
Bahahahahahahahaha
We all saw that Skills Challenge Draymond… That’s my expectations of you in the play in game…
Many Hot Takes in sports sound ridiculous mid season until it actually happens in the end. You could have never told me the 2022 Warriors would win a championship, but sometimes luck is on your side with skill.
Just ask the Cavs when they got Draymond suspended then came back from down 3-1.
Or the luck the Raptors had with KD, Iggy, and Klay hurt to win the chip in 2019.
OR, the luck our first championship with Kyrie hurt….
Just wait until the end, you just never know!
Doable depending on who they sign for those last spots, health, and rotations being on point for matchups
Drayvey J?
So what, “I don’t think we’ll win, let’s just forfeit our games.”
Why is this news? Every player says this. If you don’t you shouldn’t be in the nba.
Davey , I’m responding to your post on Draymond announcing he’s been offered the HC job when he quits.
It seems like poor judgement for Draymond to disclose obviously confidential info, but we know that Draymond always has an agenda. So, what’s up?
My speculations:
1) The FO is in the process of identifying the successor to Kerr, who retires after next season. Draymond and Steph are being consulted.
2) Draymond himself has interest in the HC job, although his contract runs a year past Kerr’s.
3) Announcing that he’s been offered the job is his way of discouraging other HC candidates from getting close to the situation. It’s the way Draymond thinks.
Amazing the energy you all spend analyzing the comments of a guy that can’t control his emotions or his mouth.
what he said