Draymond says idea of suspending AD for Game 6 is ‘whack'

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Draymond Green knows what it's like to be suspended for a crucial NBA Finals game, and he doesn't want to see the same happen to Anthony Davis.

The Los Angeles Lakers star came under fire after he hit Miami Heat forward Jae Crowder in the face during the third quarter of Game 5 on Friday night.

No foul was called on the play, but it reminded people of what Draymond did to then-Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James in the Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals, which garnered a controversial one-game suspension, which Draymond served in Game 5, a Warriors loss.

Ironically, Draymond isn't in favor of a season-altering suspension for Davis.

The good news for Davis and the Lakers is that the NBA won't discipline him.

“We review every play in the games from all angles and there was nothing further to do with this," the league told Miami's Local 10 News on Saturday.

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The NBA suspended Draymond in 2016 with the Warriors leading the 2016 NBA Finals three-games-to-one. Golden State would go on to lose the next three games and the series. The rest is history.

Kevin Durant signed with the Warriors that summer and the Warriors went on to win the next two NBA titles and came up short of a three-peat in 2018-19.

NBA (and Warriors) history might be completely different if the NBA hadn't suspended Draymond for his actions towards LeBron. 

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If the NBA had suspended Davis for Game 6 of the 2020 NBA Finals on Sunday, the league might have been looking at a similar series comeback. The Heat edged the Lakers in a thrilling Game 5 and appear to have the momentum. Without Davis, the Lakers would have been severely shorthanded Sunday and potentially faced a Game 7 on Tuesday.

Instead, Davis will be active for Sunday's game, though he's dealing with a right heel contusion that could limit his effectiveness.

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