Draymond Green has evolved into one of the most interesting personalities in the NBA, and perhaps all of sports -- the vocal leader and emotional engine for one of the most compelling NBA teams in recent memory.
Green has agreed to give Marc J. Spears of ESPN's The Undefeated an exclusive look into his life on and off the court via a playoff diary that Green hopes ends after a second straight NBA championship.
Diary Entry No. 6: May 1, 2016
The Golden State Warriors defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 111-106 in Game 1 of a second-round playoff series, never challenged after finishing the first quarter with a 37-17 lead. Green manages the NBA's first triple-double of these playoffs with 23 points and game-highs of 13 rebounds and 11 assists.
"It's not that I come out and say, 'I need to get a triple-double tonight.' If it happens, great. If not, I need to do what I need to do to help this team win. I try not to pay attention to [triple-doubles] anymore, because it almost cost us a game early in the season. At Philly [Jan. 30] we were up by, like, 25 at halftime and I came out trying to chase a triple-double in the third quarter. I finished that game with like nine turnovers. I stay away from it now."
Warriors center Andrew Bogut called Green the NBA's best all-around player after Game 1.
"As far as the compliment from Bogut, I think it is amazing. It is not necessarily something I would say about myself. But, it's something I definitely believe and appreciated. I got to continue to do what I've been doing ... considering my road, it's great. For someone to say that and even mention that, and maybe someone else doesn't believe it, but just to be mentioned like that -- some people believe it. From the road I've traveled to getting to where I am now, it's incredible. I'm blessed. I won't take it for granted.
I told my teammates yesterday right after we watched the film that we have to come out defensive-minded. I told them don't come out here thinking nothing about offense. We need to come out here and try to shut them down. What we need on the offensive end will come, if we shut them down on the defensive end. Guys came out with that mindset, and it showed.
The Blazers are a very powerful offensive team. They got guys like 'Dame' [Damian Lillard] and C.J. [McCollum], who can score the ball. It's a lot like Klay and Steph. They can get it going from anywhere. I know when teams play us they say, 'Hey, we need to shut Klay and Steph down.' That's the same thing we are saying about [Lillard and McCollum]. I wouldn't necessarily say we shut them down in Game 1, but we made everything tough for them, and that is what you have to do."
Warriors All-Star guard Stephen Curry is out with a knee injury, but is expected to return for Game 3 on Saturday in Portland.
"Hopefully, we can get [Curry] back sooner rather than later. We can't plan on that because it messes you up mentally, looking for him to come back and he's not ready now. We have to prepare like we're not playing him. He should be patient and, if he's ready, come on. But we don't need him to force it. We've got bigger plans. This is not an easy series. We are not saying, 'We don't need you. Come back later.' It's not that easy. We need everyone we can get, especially our MVP. But we are not trying to rush to make it happen, either."
The Oakland Raiders drafted Michigan State linebacker Shilique Calhoun and quarterback Connor Cook last week, while the San Francisco 49ers drafted Spartan wide receiver Aaron Burnbridge. Green, of course, is a former MSU basketball star.
"I talked to Shilique and Connor. I haven't talked to Burn'. I am going to show them the ropes around the Bay Area. I really can show Shilique and Connor a little bit more. Burn' is out there in Santa Clara. I'm not there, too much. The thing I like about Shilique is he's going to get after the quarterback, plus he can stop the run. He will eventually work his way to the other side of [Raiders Rookie of the Year linebacker Khalil] Mack.
I think Connor was the most pro-ready quarterback in the draft. But, honestly, [the Raiders] got D-Carr [Derek Carr], which has been great, so Connor will end up in the backup position right away. You never want to see anything happen to anyone. But, at the end of the day ... if something were to happen (and God willing it doesn't) and D-Carr were to miss a game, I think Connor is definitely a guy you can plug in and he'll be ready, right away. And, as far as the 49ers, Burn' was the best receiver in the Big 10 conference this past season. That is not a pushover conference. He is going to come out there ready and he has that dog. He's not coming there laying down."