NBA Finals: 5 takeaways from Game 3
By Ian Levy
4. Where was Draymond?
Draymond Green was clearly Golden State’s best player through the first two games of the series. His swarming defense was helping hold LeBron James in check. On offense he was making the Cavaliers pay for their strategy of leaving him open behind the three-point line — making 7-of-14 from behind the arc in Games 1 and 2.
In Game 3, those shots weren’t falling. Green was 0-of-4 on three-pointers in Cleveland and wasn’t really able to punish the Cavaliers by flipping the switch into playmaker mode. While Green finished with seven assists, he had just two drives and just one drive-and-kick assist. Of his seven assists, none came in the second half as the Cavaliers were pulling away. None of his seven assists came on a three-point basket.
This was about as quiet a game (on-court) as you’re likely to see from Draymond Green. He didn’t make shots. Cleveland kept him from collapsing the defense from the middle of the floor. His defense was active but, save one big block on LeBron James, wasn’t enough. With Thompson and Curry struggling, the responsibility falls to Green to hold everything together. In Game 3, Cleveland was more than he could handle on his own.
Next: 3. Tristan Thompson: Beast mode