Draymond Green - NBA Trade Rumors (Photo : Getty Images Sport | Ezra Shaw)
The NBA Playoffs are in full swing and the best indicator of the intensity is the physical play.
During Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder, Warriors' Draymond Green took a shot attempt and kicked Steven Adams of the Thunder right in the groin. The kick sent the seven-foot Adams reeling in pain. Watch the play here.
The play was reviewed and Green was assessed a Flagrant foul - penalty 1. That will give the aggrieved party two shots and ball possession.
However, it should be noted that this was not the first time Green made that play. As SB Nation noted and Steven Adams himself noted, the incident happened before. After the play, there was a video played inside the stadium of how badly Adams has been hit throughout the series. The fans at the Chesapeake Arena wanted a Flagrant 2 for Green which would have meant his automatic ejection from the game.
Huffington Post had the video of a similar play in Game 2 at the Oracle Arena. Green was driving to the basket and (inadvertently?) kicked Adams to the groin.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr stood up for his best defensive player and actually wanted the Flagrant call reversed. SB Nation had the video of his post game interview. Kerr noted that "it happens all the time" as "arms and legs are flailing about."
Kerr also argued that Russell Westbrook kicks out his leg whenever he takes a three. There is usually contact in such plays but the Thunder guard has not been called for it during the series.
The main issue here is whether Green had the intention to really hurt Adams. Kerr and Adams was already quoted that he believes it was intentional. As quoted in Ben Golliver's tweets, the argument extended to the two teams' point guards, Steph Curry and Russell Westbrook.
"Steven Adams on Draymond Green kick: 'It happened before, mate. He's pretty accurate.'
"'I think it's intentional. That's 2 times in last 2 games. You can't keep kicking someone in their private areas,' Westbrook on Green kick."
"'There was no intent. Watching the replay, I think that's clear. ... It was a normal reaction to a play.'Stephen Curry on Green kick."
The NBA would be accused of having double standards if they don't suspend Draymond Green when they promptly handed Dahntay Jones of the Cleveland Cavaliers a suspension because of a similar offense.
However, Jones' strike on the Toronto Raptors' Bismack Biyombo was clearly intentional. Again, the intention is something the NBA must determine.
