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Draymond: 'Idiotic' to think Warriors are better without Durant

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Golden State Warriors have thrived since Kevin Durant went down with a calf injury, jumping out to a 2-0 series lead against the Portland Trail Blazers after eliminating the Houston Rockets in six games.

Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have stepped up in his absence, averaging 35.3 and 25.7 points, respectively, during Golden State's three-game run. Due to their success, questions surrounding whether or not the Warriors are actually better without their superstar forward have come to the forefront, though Draymond Green emphatically shut the notion down after Thursday's Game 2 win.

"That's idiotic," Green told The Athletic's Tim Kawakami. "It's very idiotic. I don't think there's one person in this locker room, one person in this organization that thinks that. And I know for damn sure that any idiot that does possibly (say) it don't believe it."

Green further explained why the Warriors still need Durant in order to conquer a third consecutive NBA title.

"When you have Kevin, he covers up so many things on both sides of the ball," he said. "Oh shit, we haven't scored in four possessions in a row? Get the ball to Kevin, get out of the way.

"On the defensive side, you mess up a pick-and-roll coverage, he's right there to cover it up. He covers up so much for us."

Durant, whose 34.2 points per game still leads all scorers this postseason, is still well away from a healthy return. The Warriors announced Thursday the 30-year-old is not traveling with the team to Portland for Game 3 and 4, meaning fans will have to wait until Game 5 on Wednesday, at the earliest, to see him take to the court again.

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