Dub Hub: Draymond Green makes his case for defensive player of the year

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Thursday, March 20th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Draymond Green makes his case for Defensive Player of the Year following the Warriors’ 104-93 victory over the Bucks.
• In an interview with 95.7 The Game, Steve Kerr praises the “swagger” Jimmy Butler has brought to the Warriors.
• Pistons Cade Cunningham hits bank shot game-winner in 116-113 win vs. the Heat.

The Golden State Warriors delivered a statement 104-93 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night, overcoming the absence of Stephen Curry with a stifling defensive performance. Leading the charge was Draymond Green, who put on a defensive masterclass against the NBA’s second-leading scorer, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Golden State held Milwaukee to a season-low 93 points, with Green at the center of it all. The Warriors’ defensive anchor recorded four blocks and two steals while limiting Antetokounmpo to just 20 points on an inefficient 5-of-16 shooting from the field. After the game, Green didn’t hesitate to make his case for Defensive Player of the Year.

Since the All-Star break, the Warriors boast the NBA’s second-best defense, posting a 107.9 defensive rating—largely due to Green’s leadership and versatility. He has finished in the top 10 of Defensive Player of the Year voting four times in the past seven seasons but has won the award just once, during the 2016-17 season. Given this latest performance, it’s safe to say Green has once again put himself in the conversation for the league’s top defensive honor.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, March 19th:

Warriors News:

Why Kerr confidently states Draymond is ‘best defender in the world’ | NBC Sports Bay Area

“Draymond said it himself – ask the other coaches around the league who don’t they want to face,” Kerr told Willard and Dibs. “I have personally asked other coaches around the league. Trust me, there’s so much respect around the league for Draymond around the league, amongst the coaches. They see the versatility in his defense.

“These other guys are good defenders; I don’t think any of them can do everything – protect the rim, guard pick and roll out in half court, blow up stuff from the weak side.”

Jimmy Butler’s scoring, Draymond Green’s defense lift Warriors with Steph Curry out | The Athletic

Green finished with four blocks and two steals. He was the central figure in one of the Warriors’ better defensive efforts in what has been an excellent and extended teamwide defensive stretch. They are second in the league in defensive rating since Butler’s arrival.

The Bucks were held to 17 points in the second and fourth quarters. Green’s work containing Antetokounmpo was the largest factor. Antetokounmpo went 5 of 16, his worst shooting night of the season. That included sequences like the one below, where Green shows on a Damian Lillard high screen and recovers in time to wipe away an Antetokounmpo drive.

Steve Kerr praises the ‘swagger’ Jimmy Butler has brought to the Warriors

Jake Fischer Latest: The GM who boldly traded for his former teammate | The Stein Line

“I’ll have a cheesecake,” Jimmy Butler said.

The table laughed. Dunleavy huffed with curiosity.

“OK,” he said. “What’s that all about?”

“Well, I’m no different than anybody else,” Butler replied. “I just eat my meals in reverse. I start with dessert and work my way back.”

Sounds like something out of Benjamin Button’s playbook.

“Yeah,” Dunleavy remembers thinking. “This guy’s different.”

Standings update for the Warriors after Timberwolves’ loss on Wednesday

NBA News:

Sources: Bill Chisholm agrees to buy Celtics for $6.1 billion | ESPN

A group led by Bill Chisholm, managing partner at Symphony Technology Group, has agreed to purchase the Boston Celtics for a valuation of $6.1 billion, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.

That price would surpass the $6.05 billion price a group led by Josh Harris paid to buy the NFL’s Washington Commanders in 2023 as the most paid for a franchise in North American sports history, and would easily surpass the record number for the control stake of an NBA team, which was set two years ago when Mat Ishbia bought the Phoenix Suns for $4 billion.

Clippers embrace ‘Next Man Up’ to beat Cavs without coach Tyronn Lue, assistant Jeff Van Gundy | The Athletic

“I know you all hear next man up all the time, and that’s truly what it was,” Shaw said of the assistant coaches all stepping up in elevated roles against the Cavaliers, who hadn’t lost back-to-back games since January 25. “With JVG being out, BOC works the closest with him. So he stepped into that role. This was Dahntay’s scout, Cleveland. So he gave us very good intel on them as well. And you know, we had some lineups out there that hadn’t played together before. And certain situations like that, you just kind of have to go with your gut.”

Pistons’ Cade Cunningham hits bank shot game-winners vs. Heat

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Draymond Green and the anatomy of a defensive masterpiece

When Green steps up to hedge against the pick-and-roll, Butler pinches in to momentarily cover Giannis. When Green makes his recovery toward Giannis, Butler gets back toward his man — a perfectly executed symphony of defensive synchronization. From there, Green bottles another Giannis drive, forcing Giannis to give up the ball. The rest of the Warriors defense rotates on a string to force a stop.

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