Draymond Green put his signature on come from behind win in game 3
If Joe Lacob could, he probably would have entered the Golden State Warriors’ locker room and handed Draymond Green a blank check, a contract, and a pen after Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.
Green was masterful as he led the Warriors past the Portland Trailblazers to a commanding 3-0 series lead.
The Warriors’ star forward scored 20 points on 50 percent shooting with 13 rebounds and 12 assists, but that stat line still doesn’t do his performance justice. He was fast and aggressive, providing immense energy for a team that desperately needed it.
After the Warriors’ Game 2 win, he said he believed he was the greatest defender ever and he played like it in Portland. He covered every inch of the court, disrupting everything that the Blazers tried to do.
He was integral in limiting Damian Lillard to just 19 points on 18 shots. The guard never got comfortable with all of the various looks—traps, switches, etc.,—that Golden State was giving him.
Stephen Curry had another big night, pouring in 36 points in 37 minutes while grabbing 6 rebounds. Klay Thompson finished with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists while being tasked with keeping the team afloat at the starts of the second and fourth quarters when the other stars rest.
They clearly fed off Green’s energy as they mounted a significant comeback. Portland led by as many as 18 points, playing with much more life than the Warriors did in the first half.
But after the break, Golden State turned it on.
The Warriors allowed 37 points in the second quarter. They only gave up 33 in the entire second half.
Already entering this series shorthanded, the Warriors might have suffered another key loss after Andre Iguodala exited the game with a leg injury. He only played 17 minutes; after going to the locker room for an extended period of time, he re-entered the game, but he was unable to continue.
Steve Kerr turned to Alfonzo McKinnie and he produced, hauling in 9 rebounds and sinking a huge three late in the fourth. He was a game-high +24.
The Warriors’ stars got a timely boost from the reserves. Jordan Bell played some solid minutes, Quinn Cook knocked down big shots, and Kevon Looney was fantastic as always.
While most of Steve Kerr’s lineup adjustments paid off in the long run, his decision to start Damian Jones, who is coming off a near season-long injury was highly unexpected and rather ineffective.
Far from being in game shape due to the length of his injury, Jones picked up three fouls in some of his first few minutes five months after he tore a pectoral muscle.
Returning from a five month injury isn’t easy, but Jones has the added challenge of trying to find his legs on the road during Game 3 of the Conference Finals against players like Lillard and CJ McCollum. He struggled mightily in his three minutes of action.
Despite early foul trouble, Golden State increased their defensive intensity, dished out 27 assists, and controlled the pace over the course of the game en route to their 110-99 win.
The Warriors will look to close out the series on Monday and secure a fifth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals.