By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Coming back from a one-game suspension, Draymond Green is determined to help the Golden State Warriors even the Western Conference Quarterfinals best-of-seven series opposite the Sacramento Kings.
“They created a Draymond rule before, but that doesn’t work,” the four-time NBA champion told ESPN after practice Saturday.
Green, 33, served the suspension in Game 3 with the series switching to Chase Center and the Warriors getting on the board after two losses in Golden 1 Center. Game 4 is set for an early tipoff in today’s edition of NBA Sundays.
“Draymond won’t be moved by the Draymond rule,” he added commenting on the NBA partly basing the suspension on his history of unsportsmanlike acts, per the official announcement, “I’ll continue to play the game how I play the game, operate how I operate, be exactly who I am because that leads to winning. If I was losing, they wouldn’t be creating Draymond rules. As long as they create Draymond rules, that means we’re winning and that’s great, but it doesn’t change Draymond.”
Ejected from Game 2, Green was then suspended one game without pay for stepping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis after the Lithuanian center fell to the floor and grabbed his right ankle.
The former Michigan State standout will return to the lineup for the team coached by Steve Kerr, but Andre Iguodala (left wrist surgery) and Ryan Hollins (right foot surgery) will both remain sidelined. Matthew Dellavedova (right index finger surgery) is out for the Kings.
Draymond rule
Following the incident and Green’s suspension, referees have navigated the 2023 NBA Playoffs forced to make similarly tough decisions.
From Joel Embiid avoiding ejection for kicking Nic Claxton in the groin area to teammate James Harden being tossed for a groin hit on Royce O’Neale later in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals best-of-seven series of the Philadelphia 76ers against the Brooklyn Nets. Also, Dillon Brooks was ejected for a hit on LeBron James in Game 3 between the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers.
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