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  6. article_body => "<p>OAKLAND \u2013 Mostly because he has since found a higher level of brilliance, Kevin Durant\u2019s emphatic reminder of his identity has been referenced ad nauseum and probably will to be for decades to come.<\/p>\n<p>But Draymond Green also had a pivotal moment, and it came exactly one week after Durant\u2019s \u201cI\u2019m Kevin Durant\u201d pronouncement.<\/p>\n<p>After the Warriors snoozed through a 129-120 loss to the Clippers in Game 5 of their first-round series on April 24, Green stood in the locker room, acknowledged the team\u2019s apathetic defensive performance and blamed himself.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s very disappointing,\u201d he said, \u201cand that falls on me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve got to be better. I didn\u2019t start with the defensive intensity I needed to. I\u2019m the leader on that side of the ball and if I don\u2019t do that, I can\u2019t expect everyone else to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Consider that switch flipped. Post-blame Draymond has been a tireless beast against Los Angeles and Houston. His searing defensive presence has been nearly as significant as Durant\u2019s post-proclamation scoring spree. At the very least, KD\u2019s work over the past two weeks might have gone for naught if not for Green constantly roaming the court, revving the team\u2019s collective engine.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe's an All-Star for a reason,\u201d Rockets coach Mike D\u2019Antoni said after the Warriors were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/warriors\/warriors-takeaways-what-we-learned-115-109-game-2-win-over-rockets\" target=\"_blank\">115-109 winners in Game 2<\/a> on Tuesday. \u201cHe's really good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the three games since Green hogged the blame, the Warriors are 3-0. Their pace is faster and they\u2019re defending with urgency and fury, sending the Clippers home in Game 6 in Los Angeles and then returning to Oakland to take Games 1 and 2 against Houston.<\/p>\n<p>Specifically, the Warriors\u2019 defensive rating in those three games (107.8) is nearly five points better than it was in the first five postseason games (112.5). Their 9.4 net rating during the recent stretch is tops in the league.<\/p>\n<p>Playing significant minutes at center in Game 6 in LA and starting there in Games 1 and 2 against Houston, Green\u2019s general impact is being paired with strong numbers: 15.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.7 blocks.<\/p>\n<p>Green also has nullified the lob threat posed by the drives of James Harden or Chris Paul and the dives of Rockets big man Clint Capela. It\u2019s a Houston staple and it barely exists.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a little bit of a cat-and-mouse game down there,\u201d Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. \u201cWhen the guards are coming downhill, if you\u2019re guarding Capela you have to try and keep the offensive player off balance by defending the lob but also attacking the ball. Draymond happens to be really good at that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Green is outscoring and rebounding Capela. That Draymond has more assists than the Houston center is no surprise.<\/p>\n<p>\"He's really good, kind of a point guard at the center or forward position,\"&nbsp;D\u2019Antoni said.<\/p>\n<p>Green credits his late-season conditioning for providing the energy to produce at both ends. He lost about 20 pounds between mid-February and Mid-April, just in time for the postseason.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt makes all the difference,\u201d he said. \u201cAll this year, I don't think I was in great shape at all. Part of it was I wasn't healthy most of the year. Really just locking in and focusing on my body, getting it healthy and ready for this time of year has been important. I feel great out there. I think it's showing in my play.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut it's a long road for what we want to do. I\u2019ve just got to continue to do the things that I've been doing, continue to try to bring it on the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>[RELATED:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/warriors\/warriors-rockets-looking-wrap-and-less-seven-games\" target=\"_blank\">Warriors-Rockets is looking like a wrap<\/a><strong>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Defense is the foundation of the Warriors\u2019 success over the past three games. Energy, an issue at times this season, has been high. Green has taken it upon himself to be the catalyst, and his teammates are following his lead.<\/p>\n"
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Warriors

Presented By montepoole
Warriors

OAKLAND – Mostly because he has since found a higher level of brilliance, Kevin Durant’s emphatic reminder of his identity has been referenced ad nauseum and probably will to be for decades to come.

But Draymond Green also had a pivotal moment, and it came exactly one week after Durant’s “I’m Kevin Durant” pronouncement.

After the Warriors snoozed through a 129-120 loss to the Clippers in Game 5 of their first-round series on April 24, Green stood in the locker room, acknowledged the team’s apathetic defensive performance and blamed himself.

“It’s very disappointing,” he said, “and that falls on me.

“I’ve got to be better. I didn’t start with the defensive intensity I needed to. I’m the leader on that side of the ball and if I don’t do that, I can’t expect everyone else to do it.”

Consider that switch flipped. Post-blame Draymond has been a tireless beast against Los Angeles and Houston. His searing defensive presence has been nearly as significant as Durant’s post-proclamation scoring spree. At the very least, KD’s work over the past two weeks might have gone for naught if not for Green constantly roaming the court, revving the team’s collective engine.

“He's an All-Star for a reason,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said after the Warriors were 115-109 winners in Game 2 on Tuesday. “He's really good.”

In the three games since Green hogged the blame, the Warriors are 3-0. Their pace is faster and they’re defending with urgency and fury, sending the Clippers home in Game 6 in Los Angeles and then returning to Oakland to take Games 1 and 2 against Houston.

 

Specifically, the Warriors’ defensive rating in those three games (107.8) is nearly five points better than it was in the first five postseason games (112.5). Their 9.4 net rating during the recent stretch is tops in the league.

Playing significant minutes at center in Game 6 in LA and starting there in Games 1 and 2 against Houston, Green’s general impact is being paired with strong numbers: 15.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.7 blocks.

Green also has nullified the lob threat posed by the drives of James Harden or Chris Paul and the dives of Rockets big man Clint Capela. It’s a Houston staple and it barely exists.

“It’s a little bit of a cat-and-mouse game down there,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “When the guards are coming downhill, if you’re guarding Capela you have to try and keep the offensive player off balance by defending the lob but also attacking the ball. Draymond happens to be really good at that.”

Green is outscoring and rebounding Capela. That Draymond has more assists than the Houston center is no surprise.

"He's really good, kind of a point guard at the center or forward position," D’Antoni said.

Green credits his late-season conditioning for providing the energy to produce at both ends. He lost about 20 pounds between mid-February and Mid-April, just in time for the postseason.

“It makes all the difference,” he said. “All this year, I don't think I was in great shape at all. Part of it was I wasn't healthy most of the year. Really just locking in and focusing on my body, getting it healthy and ready for this time of year has been important. I feel great out there. I think it's showing in my play.

“But it's a long road for what we want to do. I’ve just got to continue to do the things that I've been doing, continue to try to bring it on the floor.”

[RELATED: Warriors-Rockets is looking like a wrap]

Defense is the foundation of the Warriors’ success over the past three games. Energy, an issue at times this season, has been high. Green has taken it upon himself to be the catalyst, and his teammates are following his lead.