"I realized I got to a point where I was doing more crying than playing.
Draymond on his mindset now in the #NBAPlayoffs. pic.twitter.com/eFswAVHhYn
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 19, 2019
Draymond Green painted his masterpiece tonight, playing like a “wrecking ball,” as head coach Steve Kerr said, and pushing the Warriors to a comeback 110-99 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. He dropped 20 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, 4 steals and a block.
After the game, he was asked about a trend that’s taken place as of late. As The Athletic’s Anthony Slater pointed out, Green, hasn’t received a technical since the first game of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Houston Rockets.
Draymond Green hasn't got a technical in this series, hasn't got one for arguing with a referee since Game 1 of Rockets series: "I got to a point when I was doing more crying than playing. I'm sure it was disgusting to watch."
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 19, 2019
Green was asked about whether he’s concerted effort on not picking up technicals and whether it helps the team’s energy.
“I think it definitely helps the energy,” Green said. “I still like to pick and choose my spots. Sometimes, I might take a tech, but that’s more mindful than just getting a tech. Sometimes I know like, alright, we need an energy burst, maybe I’ll take one. But sometimes, I’m not mindful and I’ll take a tech and that just kills the energy of our team. I’ve really been focused and locked in on that.”
He was brutally honest on the way he had been interacting with the referees.
“I realized I had gotten to a point where I was doing more crying than playing,” Green said. “I’m sure it was disgusting to watch, because I felt disgusting playing that way. I just wanted to lock back in on the game. I understand that officials aren’t perfect. I still have conversations with them now when they miss a call, but that’s a completely different conversation.”
What’s spurred on the change? Green said it was his family and fiancee.
“My mom has been really big, my fiancee has been really big on just talking to me about that and just telling me to stay locked in on the game,” Green said. “I also have some little ones at the house that are enjoying watching me play and I don’t necessarily want them to see that, so I just try to be more mindful of it.”
For more Warriors videos click here.
