{"id":49799,"date":"2023-04-20T13:35:49","date_gmt":"2023-04-20T17:35:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=49799"},"modified":"2023-04-20T13:35:49","modified_gmt":"2023-04-20T17:35:49","slug":"draymond-green-suspended-for-game-3-of-warriors-kings-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/04\/20\/draymond-green-suspended-for-game-3-of-warriors-kings-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Draymond Green Suspended for Game 3 of Warriors-Kings Series"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/04\/19\/suns-clippers-game-2-kevin-durant-and-devin-booker-lead-phoenix-to-a-commanding-victory\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Game 2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> between the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phoenix Suns<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LA Clippers<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was an incredible matchup featuring some of the NBA\u2019s biggest stars. However, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShamsCharania\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shams Charania<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> broke news during the second half that would make the game secondary to most basketball fans. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/greendr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Draymond Green<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> had been suspended for Game 3 of the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Golden State Warriors<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2019 series against the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sacramento Kings<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Draymond Green has been suspended for Game 3.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShamsCharania\/status\/1648531597338251264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 19, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBAPR\/status\/1648531506736840707\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">news<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was shocking despite the severity of Green\u2019s actions because he received a Flagrant Foul 2 and an ejection during the game. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sabondo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Domantas Sabonis<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also grabbed Green prior to the stomp and received a Flagrant Foul 1 for his actions.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Draymond has been given a Flagrant 2 and was ejected after this play <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/aKDqJ174Q0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/aKDqJ174Q0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBCSWarriors\/status\/1648181026685083648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 18, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Draymond Green was Suspended for Game 3 of the Warriors-Kings Series<\/h2>\n<h3><b>Did Draymond Green\u2019s Actions Warrant a Suspension?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wojespn\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adrian Wojnarowski<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provided much-needed context from Joe Dumars, the league executive charged with issuing Green\u2019s punishment.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Dumars to ESPN on weighing the circumstances of the Warriors down 2-0 to the Kings in the series: \u201cYou know what the situation is, but you have to set that aside and look at the facts in front of you\u2026Repeat offender weighs as heavy as anything.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8pueVedwyb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/8pueVedwyb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wojespn\/status\/1648697752023633923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 19, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Green having a history of over-the-top on-court incidents is undeniable. Just last season, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/9r3g52XTDC4\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Green was ejected for a Flagrant Foul 2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> against <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/clarkbr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Brandon Clarke<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during the Warriors\u2019 second-round series against the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/category\/grizzlies\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Memphis Grizzlies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Green <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/VNxoNpeog5Q\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">memorably dapped up<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> his teammates and coaches after they sealed a one-point victory over the Grizzlies. Green faced no further punishment as a result of that play, though, and Clarke didn\u2019t initiate the altercation and receive a Flagrant Foul like Sabonis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is some precedent for this suspending a previously-ejected player. In the same Warriors-Grizzlies series, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brookdi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Dillon Brooks<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was suspended for Game 3 after <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/uR75zA9k_qw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">receiving a Flagrant Foul 2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for clobbering <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/paytoga02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Gary Payton II<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in midair. Brooks broke Payton\u2019s elbow. Sabonis was not injured to the same degree, although he is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/anthonyVslater\/status\/1648547584288645120?cxt=HHwWgIDTzeTS6OAtAAAA\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">questionable for Game 3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a sternum contusion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dumars also makes it clear that Green\u2019s past actions played a role in the suspension. Interestingly, Dumars is a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/articles\/10034730-joe-dumars-leaves-kings-front-office-to-become-nba-evp-head-of-basketball-operations\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">former Kings executive<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and a mentor to Green, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/anthonyVslater\/status\/1648532611931987971?cxt=HHwWhoDT7aPr4eAtAAAA\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">per Anthony Slater<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. One can also wonder if Green\u2019s interactions with the crowd played a role in the suspension; Commissioner Adam Silver was in the building for Game 2.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Kings fans were giving it to Draymond, and he was giving it right back <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3TgnGj7crI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/3TgnGj7crI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBCSWarriors\/status\/1648183466377498625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 18, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><b>How Will the Warriors Respond to Draymond Green\u2019s Suspension?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Warriors face an 0-2 hole without one of the greatest defenders of all time and their emotional leader. Steve Kerr and staff essentially have two options: replace Green with a bigger player and try to slow the Kings down at home, or play one of their plethora of guards more and hope to outscore Sacramento.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Green is too idiosyncratic a player to replace one-for-one neatly. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kuminjo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Jonathan Kuminga<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lamban01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Anthony Lamb<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/greenja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>JaMychal Green<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are not providing Green\u2019s rim protection, passing, or leadership. Kuminga is the most intriguing of these options. He\u2019s one of the best perimeter defenders on the team and has the athleticism to keep up with Sacramento. He can also (theoretically) score around the rim due to the Kings\u2019 lacking rim protection. Kuminga has looked lackadaisical so far in this series. He needs to increase his intensity to have an impact after playing just four minutes in Game 2.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kerr could opt to start Payton or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/poolejo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Jordan Poole<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Green\u2019s place while increasing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/divindo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Donte DiVincenzo<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2019s minutes. Poole was injured earlier in the series and is currently playing on \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBCSWarriors\/status\/1648204340405096455\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">half a foot<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u201d while DiVincenzo hasn\u2019t had a strong defensive impact and didn\u2019t attempt a shot in Game 2. Payton plays bigger than his size and is a great option to slow down <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/f\/foxde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>De\u2019Aaron Fox<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/monkma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Malik Monk<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Starting Payton is probably the correct move, although Kerr will have to watch the injury-prone player\u2019s minutes. When a player of Green\u2019s caliber is unavailable, there are no simple solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Game 2 between the Phoenix Suns and the LA Clippers was an incredible matchup featuring some of the NBA\u2019s biggest stars. However, Shams Charania broke news during the second half that would make the game secondary to most basketball fans. Draymond Green had been suspended for Game 3 of the Golden State Warriors\u2019 series against [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4175,"featured_media":49800,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,25,29],"tags":[4759,409],"class_list":["post-49799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-warriors","category-kings","tag-2023-nba-playoffs","tag-draymond-green"],"modified_by":"Kevin Nivek","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4175"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49799"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49799\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}