The Golden State Warriors had a golden opportunity. No Steph Curry? No problem. At least, that’s what they thought about heading into Atlanta.
But from the jump, the Hawks ran the show. As for Draymond Green? He wasn’t having it. The Warriors’ 124-115 loss didn’t just hurt their record; it might haunt them when the dust settles in the Western Conference standings.
Draymond Green Calls Out the Warriors After Flat Performance
Draymond Green isn’t the type to sugarcoat things, and after the Warriors got cooked by the Hawks, he let it all out. Sitting at the table postgame, Green sounded off on the team’s lack of energy from the tip.
“We just didn’t come out ready to play,” Green painfully confessed. “We came out like we were just going to win the game, and we got diced up defensively in the first quarter. From that point on, you’re fighting an uphill battle. Everybody got comfortable. They took it to us, so we got to be better. That starts with me.” And he wasn’t done.
Draymond Green: “Bad loss. It’s a terrible loss. Eleven games left with everything to play for, you shouldn’t have a loss like this.” pic.twitter.com/B2NCIIkfNj
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 23, 2025
“We were terrible defensively.” Green continued, “It’s a bad loss, it’s a terrible loss. [There are] 11 games left with everything to play for; you shouldn’t have a loss like this. It’s too much on the line. [You have] to win the games you’re supposed to win. Obviously, Steph’s out still a game we should win.”
Draymond Green says Warriors were “terrible defensively. That starts with me.” He calls this “a terrible loss” because of what the Warriors are competing for. “There’s too much on the line.”
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) March 23, 2025
Green’s frustration was warranted. The Warriors, desperate to lock up a playoff spot and avoid the play-in mess, got punched in the mouth early. The Hawks stormed out to a 40-23 first-quarter lead, and Golden State never fully recovered.
Warriors’ Playoff Push Takes a Hit as Hawks Dominate
With the NBA season coming down to the wire, every win matters. But the loss? This one stings. The Warriors hold onto the sixth seed in the Western Conference, but its grip is slipping fast. Sitting just a half-game back, The Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves are breathing down their necks, ready to pounce.
With Curry missing, the Warriors needed someone to step up. But the squad couldn’t find a rhythm outside of Jimmy Butler’s 25-point effort and Moses Moody chipping in with 20. Green? He struggled big time. He ended up with just five points on 2-of-7 shooting in 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, Atlanta capitalized on the Warriors’ slow start and never looked back. Trey Young torched the Dubs for 25 points and 10 assists, finding open teammates like they were the only ones on the court.
Now, the Warriors are in a dangerous spot. The margin for error is razor-thin, and with a few weeks left in the season, they can’t afford another stumble. Draymond knows it. The Warriors know it. The question is—can they respond before it’s too late?