Draymond Green explains James Harden punch: ‘He pinched me’

Draymond Green had a simple explanation for punching James Harden during the Warriors game against the Rockets Friday night.

Draymond Green and the Warriors took on James Harden and the Rockets Friday night, a mano-e-mano of personalities in the Western Conference.Green, who has developed a reputation as a dirty player, got himself in another confrontation, as he apparently punched Harden in his sore shooting wrist during the Warriors’ 107-98 win. His explanation for his latest supposed transgression was simple enough. “He pinched me,” said Green, per ESPN’s Calvin Watkins.

This is just another example of Green’s fiery persona. Getting away with as much as he can chew, Green’s personality is both good and bad for the game. His play makes up for the kinds of situations he gets himself into. If Green played for the Suns, the Nets or perhaps even the Lakers, I wonder if his actions would fly.

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Green’s explanation isn’t exactly convincing, even if Harden was pinching him. The NBA full of diligent, hard-working players that play the game to win, not to kick, trip or otherwise hurt opponents. There are also those players who don’t mind making excuses for themselves, placing the blame on others before considering accepting the responsibility for their own actions.

Green is the bona fide president of that realm of players. The good news is he’s also one of the best players in the NBA. Golden State’s win Friday was its 10th in a row, to take its record to 62-14.

The Warriors briefly fell behind the Spurs in the West after Kevin Durant’s injury, but have righted the ship, and have been blowing teams away thanks to the play of Green, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The team looks primed for another run to the NBA Finals, but Green better make sure his misbehavior doesn’t get him banned.