Still owe my subs that Brandin Podziemski behind-the-scenes insider post, but let’s catch up with some up-close views from the Brooklyn and Portland games, as well as a comprehensive update on the Draymond Green suspension, from Joe Dumars himself. The Blazers win postgame includes transcripts from Steve Kerr, Andrew Wiggins, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Klay Thompson and Chauncey Billups (who probably had the best retelling of the last play where BP took the game-winning charge).
But first, some game notes prior to Celtics-Warriors. Then, as we roll in reverse chronological order to catch you up to tonight’s game, postgame from Portland where Klay used the word “moxie”, which then became an inside joke with some of his people 😂 and Wiggs referencing the “little doghouse” that he’s in right now — not a jab at Steve whatsoever, just more of a realization of where he’s at as of now.
I’m tacking the Draymond suspension details at the end because I’m sensing some “Dray fatigue” from DubNation. Bottom line: he’s out for three to four weeks and, while there are estimates of 12 games missed out there, my math has it at 13 games not including the game vs Phoenix that he was ejected from, assuming exactly three weeks as of yesterday’s breaking news…
PREGAME BOS-GSW EVE AND DAY-OF:
• Chris Paul (illness) is questionable for Warriors vs. Celtics tomorrow night. Kristaps Porzingis is questionable for Boston. (John Dickinson)
• Chris Paul (illness) is questionable for Warriors vs. Celtics tomorrow night. Kristaps Porzingis is questionable for Boston. (John Dickinson)
• Here is the 9:30AM Injury Report… Boston: Davison Out G League – Two-Way, Kornet Out-Left Adductor Strain, Peterson Out G League – Two-Way, Porzingis Questionable-Left Calf Strain Injury, Walsh Out G League – On Assignment; Warriors: Green Out League Suspension, Paul Questionable-General Illness, Payton II Out-Right Calf Strain. (Tim Roye)
• Kristaps Porzingis has been downgraded to OUT for tonight’s game at the Warriors. Most likely path is Porzingis is back tomorrow, but Horford will be out (on a b2b). Still likely to be plenty of Neimas Queta either way. (Keith Smith)
• The Santa Cruz Warriors defeat Motor City 116-112, moving onto the Showcase Cup semis. Will get winner of Mexico City-Westchester. Jerome Robinson 27pts 7reb in the win. 2nd time ever making Showcase Cup semis (’15- d. Canton in qtrs, L to Grand Rapids Drive in semis). (Kevin Danna)
• Andrew Wiggins (illness) is now questionable for Warriors vs. Celtics. Chris Paul still questionable as well. (John Dickinson)
• Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins, both sick, will warm up before a decision is made on availability. (Shayna Rubin)
• Steve Kerr pregame on Andrew Wiggins or Jonathan Kuminga closing games. Kerr said while possible he doesn’t see likely scenarios where both would be on floor at end of games together: “Whoever is playing the best is going to be out there.” (Austin Scott)
• On Trayce Jackson-Davis: “I think there’s a good chance he’ll play based on what we saw the other night.”. Kerr added it will be a nightly feel depending on matchup as to if TJD plays. Referenced Clippers game where he didn’t play as well, then POR game when he did. (Austin Scott)
• On Steph’s 3-point streak ending last game: “My favorite thing about Steph is that when we were in the locker room after the game you never would have known in a million years that a streak ended…Looked like any other win where he’s just happy for everybody.” (NBCSBA)
• Pregame Kerr said Draymond’s absence is definitely affecting Steph Curry offensively — the instinctual stuff between the two is just not replaceable. He said TJD stepped into part of the void last game. Isn’t sure TJD will always be in the rotation, but he adds things. (Tim Kawakami)
• Andrew Wiggins and Chris Paul are active for tonight’s game. (Shayna Rubin, Anthony Slater, John Dickinson, Tim Roye)
PREGAME/POSTGAME GSW-POR NOTES
• It is the 3rd game in 4 nights in 3 different cities. Injury Report: Green Out League Suspension, Payton II Out-Right Calf Strain; Portland: Badji Out G League – Two-Way, Minaya Out G League – Two-Way, Rupert Out G League – On Assignment, Williams III Out-Right Knee Ligament Tear. (Tim Roye)
• Another earlier-than-normal warm up for Steph Curry in Portland. (Shayna Rubin)
• From postgame locker room in Portland (no video plus Anthony Slater did not travel on the b2b) — Steph Curry on Andrew Wiggins’ attitude coming off bench: “Credit to him. A lot of guys would sulk and act like the world was coming down on him if he was uncomfortable or felt it was unfair. He understands he has an opportunity to be himself. He did that tonight.” (Shayna Rubin)
• More Steph Curry locker room, on his snapped 3pt streak: “I was very aware…when you don’t make one you definitely feel it. I definitely care because I wanted to see how far I can stretch it. Obviously now start another one.” (Shayna Rubin)
• On Podziemski’s game-winning charge reminded him of one he drew against Clippers Chris Paul years ago: “What BP is able to do… He’s in the right place in the right time. Anticipating the play, sacrificing his body. Winning plays. That’s a huge play, obviously.” (Shayna Rubin)
• Podziemski praises Wiggins and TJD with this tweet: “22 and 32 won us the game tonight.”
BEHIND-THE-SCENES BKN+POR
Warriors courtside highlights Brooklyn-Portland: Steph Curry, Monta Ellis, Klay, Kuminga, Podziemski
Also, Monta expressed gratitude for being invited to Chase Center and having his daughter meet Steph, for which she called Monta her hero (screenshot of a short clip which I’ll include in a Monta video coming up):
KLAY POSTGAME GSW-POR
You mentioned after the last game how Wiggins was sort of feeling after moving to the bench. What do you think about the way that he responded today?
KLAY THOMPSON POSTGAME GSW-POR: “Incredible. Efficient. I mean, did everything. Got to the rim. Played above the rim. Hit threes. That’s the Wiggs we love.”
What does it mean to get a win on the road with Steph not playing like Steph?
“It means that we played well as a team and every other guy stepped up when they were needed most, especially our rookies like BP and Trayce. And then on top of that, just, I mean, Chris Paul, what a gamer he is, not shooting the best. Then he makes a huge bucket there at the end and it’s just what a Hall of Fame player like him does.”
You’ve been on kind of a tear since that Phoenix game where you had that frustrating fourth quarter. Do you feel, I don’t know if a mentality shift is the right word, but how do you feel about how you’ve played since then?
“I thought I’ve played well. I still know I can be better and I still know I can be consistently better. So, it’s something to build off, obviously, but a huge test on Tuesday. It’s always fun. They’re one of the best teams in the league. Coming in, we have the ability to protect our home court against a championship-caliber team, and I look to hopefully replicate the same performance.”
What do you think about how Trayce did?
“Did amazing. I mean, DeAndre Ayton is a tough matchup. He’s big as well, and Trayce played so good tonight. Finishing at the rim, almost had a double double. Making plays out the pick and roll. I mean just playing like a seasoned vet and he’s a rookie which is great for the Dubs and he was looking like a steal of the draft even though he didn’t have a big game tonight.”
What does it mean having Steph’s leadership just through the past couple weeks?
“Steph is one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around. Especially his ability to lead by example. I’ve never seen him take a shortcut. I’ve never seen him cheat the game. And he never changes his demeanor… he’s going to be the same joyful person and leader. And that’s what I learned from him. Just to play with that moxie and confidence that he exudes every time he laces him up.”
You’ve had a couple games now, or a lot of games, where you have a significant lead and then it kind of withers away in the third quarter. Is there any thread that you can pull there for, as to why?
“I’m not sure, but we have to hold these leads if we want to go where we want to go. But, I’m happy we got a road win. And I know we’ll win games big and we’ll be better as the season progresses.”
CHAUNCEY BILLUPS POSTGAME GSW-POR: “Them going to Looney and obviously the young kid, Jackson-Davis played and he had a hell of a night, but it’s just one of those type of things. You pick your poison against a team that’s experienced like this. And there was a couple of times where I felt like maybe I could change it up just briefly, but I really liked our switching defense in the game. I really did.”
Last minute, Chauncey, you have the ball that looks like it goes off Curry, but they call it off you guys, you got Shaedon, you get the rebound. Just how do you feel like that whole last 45 seconds of the game went?
“Well, I mean, shoot, I mean, Steph gets to the free throw line and obviously, shit, you thinking he’s not going to miss any of the free throws. But, basketball happens. Which is why I quick-sub DA (Deandre Ayton) into the game for the rebound, rebounding purposes. And naturally I already drew my play up. It was rebound. Let’s go timeout. But we got it out quick and once he passed it and we started attacking, I really wanted to call a timeout at that point. You got him attacking. We was gonna have to take it out back there; we couldn’t really advance it at that point once the play started going. So I just kind of let it play out. If, if Shae would have ever broke the plane and stopped attacking, then I probably would have called a quick one. But when he was on the move attacking, I said, let the young fella figure it out. I was comfortable with it.”
Chauncey, obviously, the last two plays, they were with Steph and then with Shaedon, you probably wanted to challenge, to take a look at it again. What’s your kind of process with that, with when to go to the monitor and when not to throughout the game?
“Well, we have a process in place. One, first of all, I’m looking at it thinking that’s a charge, that kid is one of the best in the league already at it in the league, drawing charges, but I don’t just trust me in my eyes, we have a process that, we have the little monitor behind the bench and we talk about it at all times, and when all of us are saying the same thing, I said, well, it’s a charge.”
So for the early one on Jabari, when you took your second challenge, that’s just like, hey, we want the ball back?
“Yeah, well, that one was a scoop. It was the earliest one. Remember, we ended up getting the and-one and then the second one with ‘Bari, I really thought that it was minimal contact on the play. I’m like, we can get the ball back, but we lose that one. So that one was tough, but I really hurt myself early when I did do a scoop challenge. We ended up losing the time out anyway, based on when I challenged it, but in a game like this, when you’re struggling, you got a chance to get three points and you feel good about the challenge, let’s just do it. I’ll take the points, you know? So, yeah, so it was in the moment decision at the very end when DA got the rebound. They don’t know. Yeah, it was in the moment. It was in the moment because I was going timeout. I was going timeout for sure.”
Did you lament not having a challenge with the out of bounds play?
“Absolutely. Absolutely. I wish I had it. Definitely, I would love to have in the moment, had that. I don’t know. I don’t know. Obviously, he had a compressed timeline in the final couple of minutes back and forth with, without challenge, not taking time out, but the first half defensively, it looked like a lot like what we saw last game against Dallas where the defense wasn’t there.”
Was there a message to the guys at halftime?
“What was that? Because it looked like, again, two different teams. It was two different teams. And I told our guys at halftime, I said, ‘Look, we obviously struggle. But I can promise you this is the NBA and nobody’s gonna feel bad for you. If they can kick your ass, they will. We gotta have some pride, man. And if not, I’ll find a way to get some fire on the floor.’ And I thought we came out with the right mindset in the second half, knowing that we just keep plugging away, keep plugging away. We’re doing a good job of taking away a lot of the actions I thought, and obviously did a good job on Steph. But Klay got loose, Wiggins got loose and their young kid played well. So it was, I thought we did a good enough job and gave ourself a chance to win after being down to a veteran team like that. It’s not easy.”
STEVE/TJD/WIGGS POSTGAME GSW-POR
After everything that Andrew Wiggins has gone through the past couple of days, what was it like to see him sort of break out the way that he did?
STEVE KERR, POSTGAME GSW-POR: “Yeah, it was vintage Andrew. That looks like the guy I know; he was aggressive, confident, took the shots that were there, attacked, made some good passes. I thought Andrew was just absolutely brilliant.”
And what about Klay?
“I mean, he’s been good the last two games. Klay’s been good because he’s taking good shots. I mean, that’s what it comes down to for him. As long as his shot selection is good, then he’s effective whether the shots go in or not because he draws two people with him all the time, so many times we’ll set a screen for him and a guy will jump out and one of our bigs will duck in and get a post up or get a drop off pass for a dunk or layup. And so I think Klay’s shot selection has improved over the last week or two. And that’s one of the reasons his game is so much more sound and solid.”
You had a Trayce out there for an extended time. What did you see from him and what sort of prompted you to get him that much time?
“Well, Dario picked up his third foul. so that prompted Trayce’s entrance into the game, but we say before every game, we say, let’s see if we can get Trayce out there. I mean, he’s impressive. You see how athletic he is, 14 points and eight rebounds in 17 and a half minutes. So, he was really productive, but he just gives us a different look, just with his athleticism. And, tonight he was a real key because as soon as we put him in, he really stepped up and played well. And, that’s why we stayed with him.”
Is there a common thread that you can pull to why the third quarter, or when you get these big leads, why they tend to misalign?
“I wish I knew. I remember five or six years ago, we always would have these great third quarters and people would ask what we were doing coaching wise to lead to those great third quarters. And it’s like, yeah, I’m giving this great speech or something. I wasn’t doing anything then and I’m not doing anything now; we just go in at halftime, we talk about the game plan. We talk about our keys and, I think, we had a great first half and it seemed to me in the third quarter, we had really good shots and we just missed shots and they took advantage of a lot of our misses, got out and ran. We weren’t great in transition defensively and gave up 35 points that quarter. So, everything changed from there.”
Let me just sort of bring it full circle. It’s not a great scoring night from Steph. what was it like to have Andrew and Klay step up?
“Yeah, I mean, we can’t rely on Steph to bail us out every single night. So, tough shooting night for him. But, that’s what a team is supposed to be about, is everybody filling in for each other and different guys stepping up each night. And I thought tonight it was really the whole team that stepped in and played well around him. And that’s a great sign because he’s carried us for long enough this year and we’ve got to give him more help. And we’re starting to see signs of that.”
It was suspenseful, but you guys have back to back wins for the first time in a little while. Do you feel like you’re starting to kind of settle into somewhat of a groove?
“Yeah, I mean, I think we kind of pointed to this part of the schedule, where we have a bunch of home games coming up and we thought it was really important that we win these this back to back, so to get last night’s game and then to follow it up with another win gives us some momentum some confidence. And now we’ve got all these home games. It’s a chance for us to make a push and kind of get back in the race.”
What was it like to get some meaningful run tonight? And how did it feel, knowing that you’ve had kind of some inconsistent minutes this season?
TRAYCE JACKSON-DAVIS: “Just always being ready when your name is called. I saw Dario got three fouls and Coach looked at me, called my name and then just getting the most out of the opportunity. Just playing hard, trying to help, do whatever it takes for my team to win.”
What was specifically working for you, you think?
“I think just, coverage is just trying to alter every shot and then just on the offensive end of the floor, being a lob threat, screening, getting guys open and then just making the right plays in the dive.”
What does it mean to get a win on the road on a night where Steph isn’t really at his best?
“I mean, it just shows that we got other pieces on the team. 30’s done a lot of heavy lifting, the first half of the season. So having guys step up and just contributing, being ready to play, it’s great. And we just got to have more of that and continue it through the rest of the season.”
Anything on here? I’m good. You sure? Yep. Step and play would be in here.
What’s it been like for you? I don’t think we’ve talked to you since you’ve moved to the bench. What’s it been like for you mentally adjusting to that? It’s been your whole career where you haven’t come off the bench.
ANDREW WIGGINS: “Oh, it’s different. different for sure, but it’s another thing I have to deal with, and I have to just keep fighting and keep playing hard, keep doing the right things and believing in myself and whatever happens, happens.”
How did you feel going into today’s game? Was that on your mind, sort of trying to get back to your normal spot? How do you approach the game playing off the bench?
“Of course, I want to get back to my normal spot, for sure, but it could take time. I don’t know, who knows, I can’t really dwell on something that’s the decision made by somebody; I just got to keep playing, keep staying aggressive, stay in the gym and just try to do the right things.”
How would you assess your performance overall tonight? What do you think went right?
“I feel like I played well, I got after it on the boards, defensively I feel like I was locked in and stayed aggressive on the offensive end. So it was an okay game.”
When was the last time, if ever, that you’ve, like, regularly come off the bench? I know you came off for one game in the playoffs last spring.
“Um, yeah, I’m just trying to think. I think it was fifth, sixth grade – sixth grade; been a minute. Something like that.”
Was that like a rec team, AAU?
“Just rec. It was just like one season. And the next season I was starting. Yeah.”
So I’m guessing like starting didn’t even really matter back then as much, right?
“Um. I mean, maybe back then. But it’s the NBA. There’s gonna be ups, there’s gonna be downs. You just gotta stay level headed, believe in your work and stay going after it.”
What was that conversation like with the coaching staff for you, maybe emotionally? Was it surprising? Was it not surprising? How did you feel about it?
“I mean, it was definitely surprising, but no, anything can happen in this league. And I’m blessed to be here. Not a lot of people get the opportunity to play in this league, so I’m blessed to be here and if I want to get out of this little doghouse, I gotta just keep fighting my way up.”
With Steph not scoring like he usually does today, what was it like to have you and Klay and others sort of step up in that void?
“Yeah, that’s a great thing about this team. we’re a very deep team; a lot of guys can go out there and change the game in a lot of different ways. Like, Trayce came out here today. The offensive boards, the energy, on the defensive side, just going after the ball, trying to block every shot; he could change the game for us. We have a lot of guys come in and contribute to winning basketball.”
GSW-POR IN-GAME/POSTGAME NOTES
0:00 refs: Ed Malloy, Scott Twardoski, Jenna Reneau (who is not even on the NBRA website, oh boy, probably only her 2nd year based on Google search)
4:15 on Alabama and commenter MaeMae Denise and Latrell Sprewell: Spree is in the doghouse with GSW (considering Monta Ellis was there yesterday)
5:00 REBECCA JOINS US FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LIKE YEARS!
8:30 Rebecca on the season so far
11:00 on Draymond and maybe getting slightly slower, or maybe it’s an off-court issue, I’ve had my road rage phase
12:45 Rebecca gives us an update on the Heat
14:00 on having Steph and Klay for the champ via Rich Banks: Yes, but also it’s more of an ecosystem around our scorers than literally any other team
16:15 tipoff! Looney tip
11m30 Q1 Klay curl 3 swish
10m30 Q1 JK steals DHO high IQ
9m30 Q1 Steph bad lefty lead to Loon
8m50 Q1 JK screen assist for Klay
7m30 Q1 BP good D on Camara
7m12 Q1 JK great attack vs Grant, making Jerami look normal
6m50 Q1 Klay fly by 2
25:00 JK has gotten better against all teams and reducing brain farts
27:00 on practicing FTs, very very hard
5m42 Q1 Klay to Loon
5m15 Q1 Klay curl but should’ve let JK post Simons, then CP almost tov, then JK attack
4m10 Q1 Moody hustle
3m55 Q1 Mo reb hustle
3m40 Q1 Wiggs could’ve cut, Saric didn’t shoot a 3
3m28 Q1 POR 3 on corner inbound too easy
3m10 Q1 Wiggs bad pass to Saric
3m04 Q1 BP draws charge
2m50 Q1 Wiggs euro good
2m30 Q1 good D Mo
2m20 Q1 bad tov CP
1m20 Q1 bad tov Mo
0m40 Q1 Wiggs post good big steps
41:00 on run out tov and Wiggs being more aggressive
11m55 Q2 BP great cut
11m35 Q2 Klay gives that look on JG 2
10m42 Q2 having trouble passing
10m15 Q2 Klay good fb
9m56 Q2 BP late cut, still our ball
9m44 Q2 BP beats Ayton P&R
9m20 Q2 BP open corner but Wiggs causes defensive 3
9m10 Q2 Wiggs step back 3, needs to put 4 quarters
8m42 Q2 CP to Dario 3
8m25 Q2 Dario bad screen
8m12 Q2 Brogdon too easy past Klay POA
7m50 Q2 TJD patient on Klay curl 3
7m30 Q2 TJD alley P&R CP
6m55 Q2 Klay my bad after the heat-check, Steve shakes his head
6m33 Q2 Wiggs 3 on SLOB
6m10 Q2 TJD good D
6m00 Q2 Steph to TJD
5m30 Q2 JK 3 via TJD screen
5m03 Q2 JK great pass to TJD but fouled
3m45 Q2 Mo draws charge
3m22 Q2 JK great POA, Mo dunk, Steph behind-the-back assist a la KD era
2m05 Q2 JK gets behind D touchdown CP
1m50 Q2 CP another great assist to JK
1m15 Q2 TJD roll dunk
0m38 Q2 Steph bad tov
0m30 Q2 TJD dunk via Mo
0m10 Q2 great help JK for Mo vs Simons then another help by someone else
1:09:15 the process also allows vets to accept their role too with less mins
1:10:00 Klay has never started a season on a heater
11m45 Q3 Klay good attack
11m10 Q3 BP yells at Portland
11m05 Q3 tov Steph, but Klay 3 in trans on the next steal
10m20 Q3 JK screen assist Klay
9m40 Q3 Klay heat-check airball at least went oob
9m25 Q3 BP POA but Simons missed
9m15 Q3 JK finds Steph but missed, JK bad goal tend, Klay reached
7m30 Q3 Steph surgical pass to Loon
5m20 Q3 Klay dribbled too much Ayton
4m55 Q3 Steph hero assist Klay 3
4m30 Q3 Klay reaches in on JG
3m58 Q3 CP passes up corner 3, then stagnant
3m05 Q3 Wiggs hero bucket
2m30 Q3 no call for Saric by Malloy baseline
1m15 Q3 steal Mo from zone
1m00 Q3 BP cut via double on Wiggs post
0m10 Q3 Mo hustle oreb after being blocked
0m01 Q3 Saric no foul
11m35 Q4 CP bad tov
10m55 Q4 TJD great D on Simons
10m40 Q4 TJD putback own miss
10m22 Q4 Klay loses Scoot on cut
9m55 Q4 Klay bad pass, TJD blocks Scoot downhill
9m38 Q4 CP defensive 3 sec mindless
9m17 Q4 BP great hustle steal
8m20 Q4 CP entry Wiggs
7m55 Q4 Klay runner lefty via TJD
7m20 Q4 Wiggs 3 Steph
7m03 Q4 Steph great recover on Simons, then TJD great oreb
6m35 Q4 good D by Steph
6m06 Q4 Steph swish beauty
5m55 Q4 TJD!!!!! all kinds of TJD til 5m16
2:10:15 Dean: Steph shimmy after a miss? (Dean) “bobbling his head” (Bloomer)
5m11 Q4 TJD dunk via Wiggs
4m33 Q4 TJD to Wiggs corner 3
3m50 Q4 before FT, BP told TJD to think
3m10 Q4 Warriors basketball Klay corner 3
2m30 Q4 Steph passes up the lane, CP J
1m50 Q4 Steph Loon alley Wiggs
1m35 Q4 good reb Wiggs
1m10 Q4 Steph tov
0m25 Q4 CP baseline J
0m10 Q4 SLOB to Steph or Klay as 2 guys went to backcourt (Steve should get credit)
0m02 Q4 BP takes a charge!!!
2:29:30 should we have fouled up 3 at the FT line
2:33:45 KLAY POSTGAME ON-COURT AUDIO: on TJD = Baby T: “”he gets that double-double he graduates to Trayce Jr.” lol
2:38:00 Rebecca says Horford doesn’t start for BOS
2:49:30 DEAN COMES ON BOARD!!!
3:00:00 Dean: TJD outplayed Ayton
3:03:00 Rebecca on Steph’s assists: double-teamed entire Q4, can’t ever say Steph played like “trash”, Dean thinks national news will give Steph hate, but the team is having fun
3:06:45 STEVE POSTGAME AUDIO: “before every game we saw let’s get Trayce out there”
3:10:15 TRAYCE POSTGAME AUDIO
3:13:00 on Boston matchups
3:18:15 on corner 3s and perimeter defense
3:20:30 WIGGS POSTGAME AUDIO: he last didn’t start in the 6th grade (?)
3:24:00 on Drunk History on MTV
3:25:00 on Podziemski, Jaime Jaquez, Cam Whitmore, Christian Braun and rookies
3:38:30 on the IST
3:52:00 on Markannen
3:59:45 KLAY POSTGAME AUDIO: “”Steph. is. one. of. thee. best. leaders…” LMAO
4:08:00 Dean coins SHIT: “Steph has incredible talent”
4:11:00 Dean: we’re the vibey-est dynasty…the more fun we have the better we will play
4:13:45 on this team helping pickup the energy slack in Draymond’s absence
DRAYMOND SUSPENSION DETAILS
EDITORIAL: For anyone wondering if Draymond’s off-court issues involve his wife, which is something that I’ve heard when people speculate, that’s probably not it, if you know the love she always posts for him, such as this one today. Also, Draymond himself seems to be in good spirits:
• Shams Charania for RunItBack: “I’m told the expectation is that [Draymond] Green will remain sidelined via suspension for at least the next three to four weeks.”
• PER THE GSW SCHEDULE: three weeks from today is Mon 1/8 and effectively 13 games missed after the PHX ejection, four weeks is Mon 1/15 and that night would be the 17th consecutive game missed. Shams claims in his article that three weeks would equate to 12 games: https://theathletic.com/5145989/2023/12/18/draymond-green-counseling-warriors/
• Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic from media availability with Joe Dumars: https://theathletic.com/5147824/2023/12/19/draymond-green-suspension-nba-pistons-losing-streak/
“I don’t think that dealing with player issues (has) to simply be punitive,” Dumars said Monday at the NBA’s Manhattan offices. “I don’t believe that. I think there’s also an obligation to help these young guys get better in maturing and how to deal with things. So often, we just say he should be suspended for the rest of the year or he should be suspended for — OK.
“We have to administer punishment, but I also believe that we can’t discard these guys either. These are human beings. And if we can administer the punishment and help at the same time, then we should try to do that. And I think that’s what you see here and what we’re trying to do right now as opposed to just suspend them and send them away and then that’s it. That’s just not what we’re trying to do here.”
Green will have to meet a set of criteria before he can return, though what they are altogether is still unclear. Dumars said Green has begun counseling and is “talking about how you deal with issues, how you deal with your emotions. I think those are the things that have to happen.”
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“We didn’t want to get focused on just a number,” Dumars said. “You put 5, 10, 15, 20 — whatever you put — that becomes the focus. Everybody focuses on that many games, as opposed to ‘Draymond, take some time off, get yourself right, whatever you need to do. Get your help, and get yourself right.’ And (we) didn’t want him to feel, ‘Well, I have to hurry up and do this now because I have, whatever, 5, 10, 15, 20 games.’ And so there is no minimum threshold.
“The only thing we really want to see him do is get better so when he comes back, we’re not dealing with the same issues over and over again. And so that was the whole purpose behind indefinite, and when he is ready, then he’ll come back. When we feel like he’s ready, he’ll come back. When the team feels like he’s ready, he’ll come back.”
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…Dumars said this decision will not be made alone. He and others in the league office are consulting with health professionals, the Warriors, the NBPA and Green.
“He’s been very receptive to this right here,” Dumars said. “He’s not pushed back on this. He has agreed this is what needs to happen. He hasn’t been defiant about this at all.”
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