Draymond Green sees an entirely different challenge in the Boston Celtics than that posed by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Green was asked about how he sees this series compared to what it was like to face LeBron James and the Cavs in four-straight Finals. He didn’t see much of a comparison.
“It doesn’t compare to mentally playing against LeBron James who I think is arguably the smartest guy to ever play,” Green said. “He’s arguably the smartest guy to set foot on a basketball court. And so to say that it compares to that, it’s disrespectful to LeBron and it’s, it’s a lie to you.”
He made a distinction, though, to clarify that he wasn’t just ragging on the Celtics.
Green’s point was more that facing James was much more taxing mentally, whereas these Celtics are more physically challenging.
“It is a challenge mentally because these guys are super athletic, they are super young and fast and strong,” Green said. “All the things that we know and have heard throughout the course of this series, they are those things. So when you’re facing that, you have to try to out-think the guy.”
In the Celtics’ starting lineup of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Al Horford and Robert Williams III, there is an immense amount of length and athleticism.
At times, the Warriors have struggled to contain and deal with that blend, especially as it pertains to Williams III, one of the elite rim protectors in the league, even on a hobbled leg.
Green said there’s still that mental component, it just doesn’t compare to James.
“I have to try to understand what [the Celtics are] trying to get to and so I think there’s been huge in this series,” Green said. “But not as much of a chess match as it is when you’re playing LeBron who is dissecting every play in the computer of his eye in real time. That’s just a skill that not many people possess.”
The Warriors and Green will have an opportunity to close out the Finals and secure their fourth title in eight years on Thursday in Boston.
