Steph Curry's suddenly crooked jumper has been the most notable contributing factor to the topsy-turvy NBA Finals that sees the heavily favored Golden State Warriors trailing the severely undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers 2-1. But the fact the man who's fueled the Warriors' engine throughout the season has been a zero in the series certainly hasn't helped matters.
Forward Draymond Green struggled again in Game 3, shooting 2-of-10 from the field and registering a minus-14 in 30 minutes. When the Warriors made a late run to get back in the game, it was David Lee - whom Green replaced in the starting lineup at the beginning of the regular season - sparking them off the bench.
In the Finals, Green is averaging 9.7 points on 26.7 percent shooting (1-of-8 from deep) and has been in foul trouble every game. At one point in Game 3, with the Warriors threatening to erase a deficit they'd whittled down to four points, Green got a wide open look at a straightaway 3-pointer. He passed it up, drove the ball into traffic instead, and missed a contested push shot.
At the other end of the floor, he hasn't been the LeBron James stopper many believed he might be before the series began, and the Warriors have mostly opted to stick Andre Iguodala on James. Green has looked hampered at both ends, and the Warriors are paying the price.
Should we expect him to pick it up? According to Green, the main thing that's slowing him down is his back, which he tweaked on a fall in Game 2.
Draymond Green shared w/ me his back "is locked up at all times- pain w/ explosion, jumping & contact". Hurt it Game 2, 3rd qtr after fall.
— Rosalyn Gold-Onwude (@ROSGO21) June 10, 2015
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr shed more light on Green's injury during his media availability on Wednesday.
"Draymond has back spasms," Kerr said. "He should be able to play tomorrow. He's getting treated today."
Green's a warrior, of course, so he's going to do everything he can to play through the pain.
Draymond Green in regards to major back pain: at the end of the day everyone's banged up, gotta grind out, it's the Finals.
— Rosalyn Gold-Onwude (@ROSGO21) June 10, 2015
But it's unclear whether that will ultimately be the best thing for his teammates. The Warriors still need him out there, but if his back continues to affect him the way it seemed to in Game 3, his minutes (he averaged 41 in Games 1 and 2) will likely have to come down significantly.
We may end up seeing more of Lee in Game 4.
- With h/t to Eye on Basketball
