Draymond Green is one of the toughest defensive players in the entire league. He is a 5-position defender, that doesn’t back down from any challenge on that end of the floor.
Throughout his career, Draymond Green has also been known for being a player that thrives in a hostile environment and is willing to play the “villain” role. He is not afraid of playing physically even in front of an away crowd, and trash-talking opponents in the process.
Klay Thompson has recently opened up on how Draymond Green will perform in a hostile away environment in Memphis during their Game 2. There is definitely a reason for the Memphis fans to dislike him, as Draymond Green committed a Flagrant 2 foul on Brandon Clarke in Game 1, and was subsequently ejected. Thompson claimed that Draymond Green “embraces” playing that “villain” role, and added that the Warriors “need that” from him.
Klay Thompson on how Draymond Green will handle the hostile environment in Memphis for Game 2:
“I've been through the biggest battles with Dray, and he embraces those moments. He embraces being the villain, and we need that.” pic.twitter.com/GhsGYUs3Wz
— Mark Haynes (@markhaynesnba) May 3, 2022
“I’ve been through the biggest battles with Dray, and he embraces those moments. He embraces being the villain, and we need that. He really makes us go, and without him We’re not the Warriors… I’m just excited for him.
There is no doubt that the Golden State Warriors are not the same team without Draymond Green. They need the physicality and the attitude that he brings to the team, and their defense simply wouldn’t be as good without him. He has often been called the “heart and soul” of the team, and the label is certainly accurate.
It remains to be seen how far the Golden State Warriors will end up getting in the playoffs this year. They definitely have enough talent to make a deep run and win it all this year. However, their first priority will be getting past the Memphis Grizzlies, and that won’t be an easy task. With that being said, they have a good chance of moving on to the Western Conference Finals, and perhaps this is the year they get back to the biggest stage in the Finals.
