Golden State Warriors: Is Draymond Green The Best PF In The NBA?
Green’s Importance To The Warriors
Green not only leads the Warriors — the NBA’s top assist team — in assists, but he’s also sixth in the NBA in assists per game. Green also ranks 15th in blocks per game, 19th in rebounds per game, ninth in total win shares and second in plus/minus (+15.3). The only player in the league with a superior point differential this year is the league’s reigning MVP.
The Swiss Army knife act was impressive in the past, but now it’s elevated him to star status. In addition to putting up these well-rounded numbers, Green doubles as the team’s best and most versatile defender as well. With his ability to defend all five positions, the Warriors’ defense is able to switch pick-and-rolls and utilize small-ball in a way that no other team can.
And that’s without even taking into account the importance of his confidence, swagger and attitude to the defending champs, who have a target on their backs every night they play.
There aren’t many in the NBA who are as important on both ends of the court AND to the psyche of the team as Draymond Green
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) November 13, 2015
The Dubs’ “Lineup of Death” is grounded in Green’s ability to hold his own as the team’s center. His ability to do so allows that lineup featuring length, intelligent passing and dangerous shooting to devastate opposing defenses in an unprecedented way, with that five-man lineup of Curry, Thompson, Green, Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala outscoring opponents by 91 points in 64 minutes of action this year.
Green is the player that makes that happen, the glue that makes the Dubs’ defense so elite and the floor general that makes things happen when opposing defenses cut off Curry’s point of attack. His two-way importance to the Warriors is paramount, and possibly even greater than that of Steph Curry.
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