Golden State Warriors: 5 Takeaways From Game 4 vs. Blazers

4. Draymond Is Not A System Player

If you’re still living under the rock where Draymond Green is a system player, it’s time to come out and finally see the sun. After a heroic 37-point performance on 8-of-12 shooting from three-point range in Game 3, Green’s final stat line in Game 4 was only overlooked because of Curry’s historic night.

In a team-high 44 minutes of action, Green finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, seven blocks, five assists and four steals. He shot 5-for-9 from the field, made two of his three triples and went 9-for-10 from the foul line, all while putting that patented defensive versatility to use on the other end.

On back-to-back possessions in the third quarter, when the Warriors were busy turning a 10-point deficit into a one-point advantage, Green was the catalyst on the defensive end, stuffing Damian Lillard at the rim:

Before turning Lillard’s gorgeous pass for an assist into another block, this time on big man Mason Plumlee, to jumpstart a Warriors fast break that helped them reclaim the lead:

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Green’s seven blocks were the most by a Warriors player in a postseason game since Manute Bol in 1989.

His poster on Plumlee was set up on a beautiful dime from Curry, but it was just one of many examples in the game of how underrated Green is by those who consider him anything less than a superstar.

But for Green, of course it’s not enough to win; it’s about being a leader in the process. The kind of fearless, ultra-competitive, supremely confident example that’s easy to hate and even easier to love, depending on which side you’re on.

After the game, Green was asked if he thought the Blazers were done and his response was pure, unadulterated Draymond:

Normally, the players who provide their opponents with bulletin board material are the less talented ones, with their words amounting to little more than guys talking out their ass only to have it handed to them later on.

Green, on the other hand, is the emotional leader of a 73-win Warriors team who doesn’t mind encouraging his opponent to give them their best shot.

Call it bold, call it cocky, call it a potential jinx in the making, call it whatever you want. But for a living Warriors legend who’s averaging 24.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 3.8 blocks and 1.8 steals per game on .470/.480/.828 shooting splits in this series…he can pretty much say damn well whatever he pleases.

If you can’t talk smack as the defending champs coming off an historic season while backing those words up every step of the way, when can you talk trash? It’d be easy to hate Draymond Green, but why do that when he’s so damn easy to love as a bonafide superstar?

Next: No. 3