Draymond Green is averaging 14.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists in the NBA Finals against Cleveland. With Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson not consistently lighting up the scoreboard for the Warriors during the Finals, it has looked like another year where team ball will win the Warriors the championship anyway — with the Finals MVP up for grabs. Last year, reserve Andre Iguodala was Golden State’s key in the Finals, adding potent offense to his defensive work on LeBron James to take home the Finals MVP.
This year it looked like Draymond Green might carry away that Finals MVP prize. Arguably no one has been more valuable to the Warriors so far in this series, which they lead 3-1. Green’s emotional antics notwithstanding, he has been a defensive stopper with a tireless work ethic while also banging critical 3-pointers and finding the open man. In short, Green has personified the Warriors’ “it takes a village” approach to the basketball success. Green’s 9.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists lead the team, as does his 38.1 minutes per game. His five blocks and seven steals in the series also lead the Warriors. But he’ll sit out Game 5 at Golden State, suspended for a flagrant-1 foul against James in Game 4. And with the suspension goes Green’s likelihood of winning the NBA Finals MVP.
