LeBron James reacts to Draymond Green during a disagreement late in Game 4. The NBA upgraded Green’s reaction shot to James’ groin as a Flagrant-1 foul automatically becoming a one-game suspension for a potential close out Game 5 for the Warriors when they host the Cavaliers tomorrow night. Photo courtesy the Getty Images Licensing Agreement/Associated Press
In news that can only be described as predictable, the NBA decided to suspend Draymond Green for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Following an incident with LeBron James late in the Warriors’ Game 4 win, the four-time league MVP complained about a few words that the ornery Green said to him in the heat of battle. He didn’t once voice his displeasure over a Green cheap shot to the crown jewels.
Rather, James was unhappy with how Green described him on an NBA court. Let’s just say he called him the b-word. Interestingly, the NBA officials called a double foul on both players after the heated exchange that also included James taking a step towards Green. It took the league 48 hours to upgrade Green’s right to James’ groin to a flagrant-1 foul, resulting in an automatic one-game ban due to his recent history. James was assessed a meaningless technical foul.
So, did NBA Vice President of Basketball Operations Kiki VanDeWeghe overreact? It depends whose side you’re on. If you’re Golden State, you hate the ruling because it takes away one of your most effective players for a potential close out home game tomorrow night in Game 5. In particular, Green’s length and athleticism has given the Cavs fits including James, who has had to deal with multiple defenders ranging from Green to sixth man Andre Iguodala to even Klay Thompson or Stephen Curry.
“I do think it’s curious how somebody who gets knocked out in the first round (of the playoffs), and who has been on vacation for seven weeks, is under the same penalty system as someone who is still playing in the Finals now,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said in a story that appeared in the USA Today online edition. “I’m not sure why that’s the case. It seems like a strange rule … That may be something to bring up in the offseason. It does seem a little strange.”
If you’re the Cavs, you’re certainly happy to get the annoying Green out of there for tomorrow’s elimination game. It will be hard enough trying to win in one of the loudest buildings. Oracle Arena will no doubt be rocking with their team having a chance to clinch a second consecutive NBA championship on home court. Last year, the Warriors prevailed in six winning their second NBA title in Cleveland.
“Again, what’s important is that this was – you look at this play on a standalone basis – other things were going on in the game, obviously – but this was viewed as a Flagrant One on its own. It wasn’t that we suspended him, it was that it triggered the suspension,” VanDeWeghe said.
“Draymond was on notice, certainly, and certainly after the last contact to the groin with [Steven] Adams, so what’s important I think is to understand that this was one point, it was viewed as a Flagrant One, and you can’t make an exception. You have to do the right thing for the play.”
