OKLAHOMA CITY -- There were times not so long ago when Draymond Green’s walk to the free throw line generated a degree of anxiety among Warriors fans.
That’s because his accuracy from the line usually hovered between 65-70 percent. His career average is 69.5.
There was no need for worry Tuesday night when Green stepped to the line with 10.1 seconds left and the Warriors clinging to a two-point lead over the Thunder. He cleared his mind and dropped two free throws before a howling crowd at Chesapeake Energy Arena to lock down a 111-107 victory.
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“Just go knock ‘em down, like any other free throws you take,” he said of his approach. “So many times, you make more of the situation. But it’s still just two free throws. It’s like you’re taking a free throw in practice.”
It’s a different Draymond at the line, though, and it has been for a while. Quietly and deliberately, he is building a stretch of fantastic foul shooting. He shot 91.7 percent in March, and is at 83.3 percent after making 5-of-6 against Oklahoma City.
“Just shooting them with confidence,” he said. “It’s a focus thing. So many times, you try to fix your mechanics on free throws. It’s a free throw. It’s about how much you can lock in on it. And I just try to forget about everything else and knock it down.”
Green doesn’t go to the line a lot, but it’s a lot easier to believe those shots will go in when he does. He’s shooting 77.4 percent from the line this season, a notable improvement that is trending even higher.
Golden State Warriors
Green’s 3-point shooting also is on the rise. He came into the game shooting 40.7 form deep over his past six games. He was 0-of-3 on Tuesday, his worst game beyond the arc since January.
“It was horrible tonight,” he said. “But it’s been feeling better. It’s good when you see them going down.”