Warriors get embarrassed: Four things to know

Draymond Green is volatile

Draymond Green currently has four technicals and a flagrant in these playoffs, the latter being the kick to the groin of Steven Adams — intentional or unintentional depending on how far you’re willing to stretch credulity. He also had three technicals in the playoffs last season, behind only Dwight Howard. In the last two regular seasons, Green has totaled 24 technicals combined. Only two players — DeMarcus Cousins and Markieff Morris — have more over the same span.

Green is an emotional player, a quality that can manifest in both positive and negative results. He is clearly responsible for the aggressive soul of Golden State’s defense and it is easy to find the examples of when his intensity, and the occasional instance of over-intensity,have made his team better. The thing is, the Warriors are so good that those instances when his emotional nature manifests negatively often get buried in a flurry of Stephen Curry three-pointers.

Cousins and Morris carry reputations as malcontents and hot-heads. Both, like Green, are incredibly talented. They also have the unfortunate luck to play for teams who aren’t usually capable of picking them up on those occasions where they are lost in frustration. Game 3 was one of the few times that Green’s emotional volatility really cost the Warriors. It manifested in the kick and the mental friction between Green and his normally under control play. Everyone else was struggling and so Green and his fire-breathing over-aggressiveness become the scapegoat.

If you play with fire long enough, you’re bound to get burned at least once.

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