5 reasons Andrew Bogut injury changes NBA Finals

2. Draymond Green is hung out to dry.

While Green is one of the NBA’s most gifted defenders in the game today, he does play with some other terrific defense players whenever he’s on the court in Bogut, Thompson, and Iguodala. Now that Bogut is out for the rest of the series, it will be up to Green to stop James and Irving when they attack the low post.

Green is coming off a Game 5 suspension for his retroactive Flagrant 1 foul on James in Game 4. Should Green get frustrated again in Game 6, knowing that Cleveland will probably get every 50-50 call anyway, he might find himself suspended again for a potential Game 7 if he does anything stupid.

Though he is easily the on-court vocal leader of this powerhouse Warriors team, it does help to have the muscle of Bogut backing him up in the starting front court. Without Bogut in the Warriors’ starting lineup, this leaves Green on an island to be exploited by the constant driving-an-kicking Cavaliers’ offense.

For Golden State to win back-to-back NBA Championships, the Warriors will need their fiery emotional leader in Green to play at a high level. He’s been largely inconsistent in that matter outside of the second-round series versus the Portland Trail Blazers. If Green can’t keep his emotions under control in Game 6 or possibly Game 7, Cleveland might just be able to end the city’s 51-year title drought by overpowering Golden State because of an emotionally comprised spark plug in Green.

Next: 1. Golden State loses its front court toughness.