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Golden State Warriors: 3 goals for Draymond Green next season

By Luke Duffy

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 03: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts in the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on February 03, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 03: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts in the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on February 03, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Draymond Green’s Goal No. 3: Be the team’s leader

Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? But being the leader of the Golden State Warriors isn’t as straightforward, or as easy and glamorous a role, as it once was. The Warriors aren’t automatically the favorites anymore, and what that means is that Green won’t have a championship ring or a finals appearance to show for all of his hard work essentially guaranteed before a ball has even been tipped.

It is easy to get yourself motivated when you can see the big prize on the horizon, but it is less easy to get to that point when the season ahead is going to be filled with highs and lows. What makes this even harder is that Curry is the golden child here, and if he takes 50 3-pointers a night and makes only five of them, fans won’t complain.

There is no shot they are unhappy with him taking. He can do what he wants, he has earned that right after being so amazing for the Warriors in previous, title-winning seasons. The same goes for Thompson, who is sure to take some time to get back to his best form once he is back on the court after his ACL tear in the 2019 finals.

Thompson is at his most destructive running off screens and moving without the ball. You can bet that this will not come back overnight once he is playing again. It will take time, something Warriors fans will again afford the player. Then you factor in Wiggins, who for the time being at least is still a part of this roster.

His frustrating style of offensive play, despite the best efforts of the Warriors to modify this, will surely lead to friction if results aren’t going the team’s way. If Green had no problem stepping up to Kevin Durant in the past, you can bet the same is true of how he will approach Wiggins.

All of which is to say, being the guy who doesn’t get the plaudits and doesn’t put up particularly big numbers will be a lot tougher to stomach now that the Warriors have come back down to earth. But in order for them to soar again, that is exactly what the Warriors need Green to be. It is hugely important for them in order to get back into the contention conversation.

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