Draymond Green - NBA Trade Rumors (Photo : Getty Images Sport | Ezra Shaw)
The NBA has stepped in and made a decision to suspend Draymond Green for the pivotal Game 5.
In reaction to that development, Klay Thompson had a sharp reaction and took shots at Cleveland's King, as Cleveland.com noted.
""I'm just kind of shocked some guys take it so personal," Thompson said Sunday, speaking of James. "It's like, I mean, you know, it's a man's league and I've heard a lot of bad things on that court, but at the end of the day it stays on the court."
Thompson was described as "questioning James' manhood" addressing the complaint LeBron aired when Green hit him on the groin area after James stepped over him after they got entangled.
"I don't know how the man feels, but obviously people have feelings and people's feelings get hurt even if they're called a bad word," Thompson said. "I guess his feelings just got hurt. I mean, we've all been called plenty of bad words on the basketball court before. Some guys just react to it differently."
Nevertheless, the decision has been made and now the question is how this development will affect the crucial Game 5. NBA Insider Kevin Pelton analyzed the situation.
One of the things the Warriors would lose with Draymond Green is their "death lineup" which relies heavily on speed and Green's versatility to defend the other team's big man. None of the other Warriors' bigs are equipped to take his place.
"The real key to the Death Lineup's success is Green's ability to defend bigger opponents while also giving Golden State five players who can handle the ball and shoot 3s. Traditional starting center Andrew Bogut doesn't offer that same versatility," Pelton pointed out.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr can field a modified version of the "Death Lineup" with Andre Iguodala and Harrison Barnes but he will have to be creative with his perimeter rotations. Players like Leandro Barbosa who didn't play in Game 4 and James McAdoo would have to step up.
"Starting Iguodala and playing Barnes at power forward also stretches Kerr's perimeter rotation. Expect Barbosa to return to the rotation in the hopes that he can be as effective as he was at home in Games 1 and 2," Pelton mentioned.
As the Insider pointed out, the Warriors will still have homecourt advantage where reserve players are more confident to step up.
Pelton's conclusion still supports the earlier predictions: "The most likely scenario remains the Warriors winning and celebrating a championship without one of their most valuable players around to enjoy it."
While the Warriors have not been invincible at their homecourt, they have won the last four contests at the "Roar-acle." Even Draymond's absence in the building would not shake that, and his suspension might be a rallying point for the Dubs.
