The Golden State Warriors narrowly escaped Game 4 against the Houston Rockets with a 109-106 victory.
One of the biggest reasons for this pivotal win was their defensive lynchpin, Draymond Green.
Green’s late-game defense and high basketball IQ came up clutch when the Warriors needed it the most, helping them rack up a 3-1 lead in the series.
Draymond Green’s Defensive Dominance Comes to the Fore
Green, known for his fiery attitude, got into it with the officials after receiving a technical foul in the first half, then spent most of the second half on the bench with five fouls.
He was still able to stamp his authority on the game, posting six points, eight rebounds, and dishing out two assists in the win, but recorded no steals or blocks.
But if you zoom in on Green’s lockdown defense, the impact is there for all to see.
DRAYMOND GREEN LOCKS DOWN DEFENSIVELY đź”’đź”’
WARRIORS WIN AND TAKE A 3-1 SERIES LEAD!!! pic.twitter.com/yg4w9dp4kI
— NBA (@NBA)
With the game hanging in the balance, it was time for the Warriors to get a critical stop, which meant Green was back in the game.
With 13.1 seconds left, the former Defensive Player of the Year was isolated against ĹžengĂĽn, who torched the Warriors all night for 31 points. One-on-one, Green came up with a crucial stop.
Jimmy Butler III corralled the rebound and sank two free throws, securing the pivotal win for the Warriors.
Interestingly, Green held the Rockets to 3-16 shooting as the primary defender.
The Warriors will need this type of defensive production from Green moving forward if they are to make a deep playoff run.
‘Stand On It Then!’ — Draymond Green’s Wife Message
Draymond Green made a late season push to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award. He was named one of three finalists alongside Dyson Daniels and Evan Mobley. Although Evan Mobley took home the award, Green was grateful to be acknowledged.
“Anytime you can be recognized in this league is great. Congratulations to Evan Mobley. Incredible young player … It’s always great to see young guys get their due in this league. It would’ve been nice to win, but anytime you’re in the running to be recognized in this league is great.”
Draymond Green’s wife, Hazel Renee, also showed her husband some recognition as well. The Warriors posted a picture of Draymond Green to their 32.6 million Instagram followers with the caption: “Best Defender In The World”. Renee reshared this post to her Instagram story, agreeing with the sentiment of the caption. “STAND ON IT THEENN!” Renee wrote.
Draymond Green has many career accolades to “stand” on. He is a four-time champion, seven all-defensive team selections, four-time all-star, three all-NBA selections (two 2nd team, one 3rd team), two-time Olympic gold medalist, and recently took home the ’24-25 NBA Hustle award.
Golden State and Draymond Green displayed defensive versatility, helping them command a 3-1 series advantage over Houston. This is shaping up to be a series where the experienced, veteran Golden State looks like too much to handle, while the young Rockets are coming to the realization there are levels to this playoff process.
