All Star forward Draymond Green is taking responsibility for his role in the Golden State Warriors being pushed to the brink of elimination in the Western Conference Finals.
Over four games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Green has averaged 11.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists, while shooting 33 percent and committing 3.3 turnovers per game.
“I bring the energy to this team, and I have not been that,” said Green, via ESPN. “I think our energy goes as my energy goes, and I’ve been awful. … At the end of the day, I know I’ve got to be better in Game 5.”
The last two games have been especially terrible for Green, who averaged 14 points, almost 10 rebounds and over seven assists per game during the regular season. He scored just 12 total points during the two blowout losses, while dishing out five assists and committing 10 turnovers. Green made just 2-of-16 shots from the field in Oklahoma City, with eight of his 12 points coming at the free throw line.
“And right now, I’m not myself,” Green told Yahoo Sports. “I’m thinking too much, and that’s leading to all the things that I’m not supposed to be doing … I just … I just have to be me.”
The Warriors have been outscored by 73 points with Green on the floor over the last two games. The Thunder now lead the series by a commanding 3-1 margin, leaving Golden State to win three straight games—including one in Oklahoma City—to get back to the NBA Finals.
It’s a daunting task with Green playing so poorly.
“This is all or nothing,” Green said. “We’ve put in too much work to go out like this. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself all summer going out like this. I’m not sure what it is, but whatever it is, gotta do it.”
The Warriors welcome the Thunder to Oracle Arena on Thursday night. A win would send the series back to Oklahoma City, where Golden State was just outscored by 52 points in two nights. To pull off the rarest of feats—only two teams have come back from 3-1 down to win a Conference Final series—the Warriors need Green, the team’s heart and soul, to come back to life.
