Warriors refuse to blame Draymond's absence for Game 5 defeat

The absence of Draymond Green may have had a significant impact on the outcome of Game 5, but the Golden State Warriors are refusing to blame his suspension for the team's defeat on Monday night.

"Draymond does a little bit of everything," Klay Thompson told reporters following the loss. "Obviously his playmaking, his communication, and his heart and soul. It's not an excuse, though."

With Green serving a one-game suspension for striking LeBron James in the groin, the Cavaliers' megastar wreaked havoc on the Warriors, collecting 41 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists in 42 minutes of action.

"We weren't very good defensively," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr stated. "We knew we were without Draymond, so there's no point in harping on that. We had to play better, and we didn't."

After surrendering just 97 points during their Game 4 victory, Golden State looked much sloppier on the defensive end on Monday night, particularly in the first half. The Warriors gave up 61 points over the first two quarters, allowing LeBron to attack the rim at will.

"He's our center fielder in the back when he's able to see the whole floor," Stephen Curry said. "Tonight it was obviously different rotations, and we tried to adjust on the fly with different matchups. But we just didn't execute as well."

Green will return from his suspension for Game 6 on Thursday night.