Green not counting his technicals: 'I'm still going to be who I am'
CLEVELAND - It's become a running joke in NBA circles that Draymond Green can get away with almost anything once he picks up a technical foul - that officials give the brash, defensive backbone of the Golden State Warriors more leeway once he's close to ejection.
The scenario played itself out again Wednesday night in Cleveland, when Green and Cavaliers big man Tristan Thompson picked up double technicals midway through the first quarter.
No one thought much about the prospect of Thompson having to make it through three-and-a-half quarters on his best behaviour, but the idea that Green would have to tone it down or restrain himself for the next 41 minutes was a non-starter, and that made him must-watch TV.
Green ended up playing 34 of those final 41 minutes nursing a tech, barking and gesticulating through nearly every one of them as he put together a 10-point performance that included a team-high nine assists and two steals.
"I'm still going to be who I am," Green told theScore before practice on Thursday. "That's what made me the player that I am."
The player that Green is, of course, is a three-time All-Star, arguably the game's most important defensive contributor, and the beating heart of the defending champion Warriors.
"It's something that I try to embody - being that piece to kind of coax the life out of this team. It definitely comes with some heat, which is fine, and it comes with some love, which is great.
"I'm out here trying to win as many basketball games and championships as I can. Whatever happens along the way just happens, and however people feel about it, they feel about it. I don't lose any sleep over that, that's for sure. It's a fine role, and I embrace it and enjoy it."
Green, who was ejected from three regular-season games this year, was famously suspended for the series-turning Game 5 of the 2016 Finals due to an accumulation of flagrant-foul points. With five technical fouls already accrued this postseason, Green now finds himself two techs away from a similar suspension should the Cavs find a way to extend the series.
"I don't really care," Green said when asked if he has to be mindful of his technical count. "The way I'm approaching it is one game left, so I've got two to play with for one game."
The way Draymond sees it, toning his game down to avoid another technical would make him as useless as being banned from the court anyway.
"No one tech is going to stop (me from being who I am)," Green said. "If one tech is going to stop that, then I might as well get the second one and go sit in the locker room."