Jeff Van Gundy Explains How The Celtics Should Deal With Draymond Green: "You Either Completely Ignore His Antics And His Disruptions Or We’re Going To Confront Him Every Single Time He Runs His Mouth."
As the Golden State Warriors tied up the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics at one game apiece, there was one man seemingly at the center of attention, and that was Draymond Green. We had the good as well as the bad, which is usually the case with Green, as he led Golden State's impressive defensive effort while also getting involved in an altercation with Jaylen Brown.
That play was called into question, as some felt Green should have gotten a second technical which would have led to his ejection, but he escaped punishment. He seemed to have gotten into the heads of the Celtics after that incident and Jeff Van Gundy on the "The Lowe Post" podcast had a suggestion on how the Celtics should deal with Draymond moving forward:
"To me, you don’t want to be caught in the middle. You either have to come to the idea as a group that we are going to completely ignore Green, his antics and his disruptions or and I would do it if I thought this was the best track, we’re going to confront him every single time he runs his mouth. I would try to get the earliest double T of all time, could be at the jump ball. I would start Grant Williams maybe and have him just walk right over there and just start jawing. And then every time Green is running his mouth, turn and confront him."
It sure is an interesting strategy and it would be somewhat funny if Grant Williams baits him into a double technical that early on. Dealing with Green in the correct manner is going to be key for the Celtics, as it did feel like his antics discombobulated them.
They might have to go one of two ways, as Van Gundy said. Either completely ignore him and just focus on the game, or else take it to him and if he goes overboard one too many times, then they might as well get him out of the game for once. Either way, Draymond has added another interesting dynamic to these Finals heading into Game 3.