Whether he's being cocky or critical of himself, Draymond Green has never been afraid to tell it like it is.
Ahead of Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, the struggling Golden State Warrior shouldered a big chunk of the blame for the unexpected 2-1 deficit his team finds itself in.
"If I play to my level, I think we're up 3-0," Green told Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group. "But I haven't. So we're down 2-1. So it's on me."
Green could also include NBA MVP Stephen Curry being swarmed off screens by the Cavaliers and struggling to get off his money shots as a big part of the issue, but the third-year forward from Michigan State isn't off base.
While his defense remains mostly sound, Green has struggled mightily with the ball in the Finals, frequently passing up shots. When he has jacked them up, the results have been ugly: 8-for-30 from the floor, with only one trey in nine attempts.
"This is really the first time where I'm in this position as one of the key people, the focal point. And I've struggled. So it's an adjustment. ... but I'm going to adjust. Every other time I've figured it out and I'm going to figure this out."
Coach Steve Kerr has already made one adjustment, bringing in seldom-used power forward David Lee.
Green has been vocal about the Warriors needing to step it up. Now it's time for him to deliver on the floor. Teammate Klay Thompson said after Game 3 that if the Dubs can get their offense back, they'll be fine. Curry and Green are the biggest aspects of that deficit right now, and they'll have to turn things around to win a pivotal game Thursday night.
