Posts tagged Draymond Green
It's Not Crazy, It's Sports
Draymond Green to replace Ezeil in starting lineup tonight vs San Antonio for game 2.
Golden State Warriors rookies Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes deliver during crunch time
First-year forwards Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes made big plays and big shots all night, but particularly down the stretch in helping Golden State withstand a furious Denver Nuggets comeback.
Green, who scored 16 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, made a driving layup and a pair of free throws on back-to-back possessions after Denver had cut it to five, 80-75, with 4:41 still go. He made another bucket underneath with 3:15 to go to bump the lead to eight, and also drew a key blocking call during Denver’s run.
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“When you know you’ve worked on your game for years and years, in situations like that, it’s just basketball,” said Green. “You can’t over-think the situation or start worrying, hey, there’s two minutes left in an elimination game. It’s basketball. You just keep your calm and remember all the work you put in.”
So why did Green take it upon himself to make those two critical drives?
“They’re trapping Stephen Curry,” Green said. “When you trap Steph like that, someone else has to step up and make the play. That’s basically their coach saying (Curry) isn’t going to beat us. Someone else has to do it.
“So you’re put in a situation like that, it’s your time to make a play,” Green continued. “I didn’t get that layup on my own. Bogut sealed Javale McGee off and once he did that, I knew I had the lane.”
Oh yes, and Green also made another 3-point basket, his fifth of the series, as the Warriors were building their 18-point lead. So he did a little bit of everything in his 25 minutes.
“He’s a three, a four, a two? What does he do? He wins games,” said Bogut. “I love the kid. He’s going to be a great player.”
Coach Mark Jackson wasn’t surprised to see the rookie from Michigan State be so bold from the perimeter.
“He’s made some big shots, and tonight, he really made some big shots,” Jackson said. “But he’s not surprised when he makes ‘em. Funny thing, he’s running down the floor like he’s Steph Curry making faces and gestures.”
You have to really pay attention and know the game to appreciate what he does on the floor. It was funny to me that people would ask why he was in the game in Game 1. The guy is a winner, he’s a competitor, he cares, he works his tail off, and he’s going to be a coach in this league or somewhere. The guy was a coach when we drafted him. He could do that today if he wanted to. That’s how good he is and how smart he is.
Draymond Green tweets football photo after flagrant foul in NBA playoffs
The Golden State rookie and former Michigan State All-America forward was called for a flagrant foul late in Tuesday night’s 107-100 loss at Denver for a hit on Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried.
After the game, Denver coach George Karl asked at his news conference: “Did Draymond Green play football or basketball at Michigan State?”
Green had some fun with that today, tweeting a picture of himself in football gear from the 2011 MSU spring football game — he suited up and ran a few plays at tight end — and saying: “I guess this answers that huh??? HA FOOTBALL.”
Nowadays everybody wanna talk like they got somethin’ to say
But nothin’ comes out when they move their lips
Just a bunch of gibberish
And motherfuckers act like they forgot about Dray
Day Day!!!! So proud he is playing well in the NBA. Spartan Nation!
Steph Curry, no longer leaving Draymond Green hanging.
Draymond! Unfortunately, Golden State ended up losing.
Draymond Green hits game-winner, LeBron says "he knows how to play the game"
Green makes a layup to knock off the Miami Heat, 97-95. LeBron James had some glowing words for the former MSU standout afterwards.
I’m not a big LeBron fan, but this whole story is awesome.
After the game, Lebron James talked to Draymond Green to congratulate him.
“He played hard, it was great competition out there between me and him,” James said. “I’ve also respected him especially in college, a big-time player and no one really gave him a shot, but you can tell he knows how to play the game. Any team that got him he will find a way to get minutes because he knows how to play the game and (Golden State) is a good fit for him. It was good to see him out there.”
Draymond Green with the GAME WINNING Alley Oop on the Miami Heat
Every time I see this, it makes me smile.
(via straight-from-the-mitten)
Michigan State Wearing Camo for 2nd Straight Season Opener
The 14th-ranked Spartans play the Huskies, in Germany tonight. This is the first time Division I teams have played each other in Europe.
Despite losing All-American forward Draymond Green, the Spartans are deep and talented after going 29-8 last season and earning a top seed in the NCAA tournament, where they fell 57-44 to Louisville in the West Regional semifinals.
The Huskies don’t have a chance to play in the postseason after failing to meet NCAA academic standards. They are missing five players who left the program early after the postseason ban was announced. And they are missing Hall of Fame, head coach, Jim Calhoun, who retired in September.
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Last year, MSU played North Carolina on an aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Carl Vinson, in Coronado, CA.
Tonight, MSU will be playing UConn at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Nike really outdid themselves this year with the camo socks, shoes, and even shoelaces.
The game is tonight, on ESPN at 5:30. Check it out. You won’t want to miss it.
Izzo Speaks.
Today is media day for the men’s basketball team
Tom Izzo’s opening statement:
“You have to have some leadership to be great… there are degrees of it. I don’t know why, I feel as good as I’ve felt in 10 years.”
“What Draymond did was bring back the importance of being a captain. Derrick Nix and Russel Byrd are captains. Voted solely by the players. Leadership will still be a bit of a question mark. We will be a leader by committee. They’ve had a chance to learn on the job. Austin and Draymond were two guys that really cared about the team and the program.”
“We have a freshman class that is going to be good right off the bat. How good? It’s hard to say. With the new addition of extra hours, I have a better evaluation of the freshman.”
“Appling is a much, much, much better shooter. He went on a bit of a ‘Chris Hill’ slump. I told him the best way I know how to get out of a slump is to work your way out of it. He took that advice to heart.”
“Nix is down in weight. He and Payne have improved their conditioning. I expect Payne to make a major jump in his game. Added weight and strength, is now a lot more aggressive.”
“We have the depth to run and pressure. We’ll utilize 9-10 guys. I feel very comfortable, with our guys, in having different lineups. My teams have been the best when we’ve had the versatility to do different sets. The ability to play big or small, in the NCAA tournament, is key. We’re gonna have situations where we’ll play Nix and Payne together, I like the way they’re playing together.”
“(Nix) He’s been a pain in my butt in some ways. But he can be the ultimate Spartan in other ways. I look at the last yr and I’ve seen 1 backward step in a year’s worth of work. He could either be a huge, huge success story or egg on my face. You go with a hunch, and I’ve gone with a hunch. Could have vetoed his captainship, but teammates gave him overwhelming votes.”
On Russell Byrd and what set him up to be named captain:
“Unbelievable job this summer. His confidence came back. He started helping guys around here. I still believe he’s one of the best shooters we’ve ever had. He is back where you’re gonna say ‘I understand why that kid was a big time recruit.’ He has done a phenomenal job of rallying guys and reaching out to guys. Very impressed with Russell.”
On Keith Appling moving back to shooting guard from point:
“The guy can score, but I do think I’ll play him at the 2 a little more this season. I think Trice and Valentine can compliment him to play at the shooting guard position. I don’t look to move Keith, no quarterback controversy, unless Tebow comes to town, so he’s still at the point, but I’ll move him.”
On the depth of the team and where do you allocate the minutes to 9-10 guys:
“These things always take care of themselves. I’ve always had more success when I’ve had tremendous depth. There’s always going to be an injury. We’re a solid 10 deep and they’re all pulling for one another. They understand too that if we’re going to run and pressure, that we’ll need that depth. I think it’s going to be fun to coach them that deep, I really do.”
On Denzel Valentine playing point guard:
“I see him as an Alan Anderson, he can play 3-4 positions. I see him more as a guard but the question is going to be can he guard Keith. He’s like Draymond where he isn’t as athletic as he is smart. We’re going to be able to move guys around.”
On his relationship with Derrick Nix:
“When I say he went through Hell this summer, I made his life as miserable as I could make it, and I told him that if he even looked at me wrong than it would be all over. I’ve had to make some tough decisions in my life, but I approached Nix as how I would approach my kids. I remember when Draymond was immature too, we all grow up at our own times. When I look at what he’s done, there’s been way more good than bad. I guarantee you this… I don’t need Derrick Nix here, I’d win games without him, so its not that I need to have him around.”
I’m a little concerned with Tom Izzo’s attitude toward Derrick Nix. I don’t understand why he is being SO HARD on him. But… other than that, I am excited for basketball season.
