Green wants media to 'tell the truth' about Rajon Rondo

Green wants media to ‘tell the truth’ about Rajon Rondo

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MAY 04: Referee Eric Lewis #42 issues Rajon Rondo #9 of the New Orleans Pelicans a technical foul after an altercation with Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during the second half of Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at the Smoothie King Center on May 4, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Draymond Green believes Rajon Rondo has been the instigator in their encounters during the Warriors-Pelicans series.

One of the most interesting subplots of the Warriors-Pelicans series has been the intermittent skirmishes between Draymond Green and Rajon Rondo. Green wants everyone to know he’s not the instigator.

After the Warriors Game 3 loss, the Green said he wants the media to “tell the truth” and label the Pelicans point guard the one who’s starting each of their encounters. In fairness to Green, there’s some truth in what he’s saying. Rondo has started the majority of the issues between the two. However, Green hasn’t been entirely innocent.

For example, Green could have chosen to let Rondo hoist a 3-pointer after the whistle during the first quarter of Game 3. Instead, he opted to try to block the shot in multiple ways. The interaction concluded with a light shoving match between the two. That was a clear example of Green initiating problems between the two.

Nothing in the series between the two players should surprise anyone. Both Rondo and Green thrive on trying to get under the skin of their opponents. Each player believes they actually play better when they are involved in this sort of conflict.

That wasn’t the case for Green in Game 3. The Warriors big man was minus-25 in 36 minutes of action. He almost notched a triple-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Unfortunately, seven turnovers really put a dent in what could have been an impressive stat line.

On the other side of the conflict, Rondo managed to contribute an eye-popping 21 assists in his 37 minutes on the floor. That allowed him to overcome going 2-for-11 from the floor. The former Kentucky star finished the game plus-23.

Next: Pelicans dissect the Warriors in Game 3 blowout

The two will go back at it in Game 4 on Sunday. If Green gets too caught up in his interpersonal battle with Rondo again, Golden State might head back to the Bay with a best of three series on their hands.

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