The Golden State Warriors were in a position they aren’t used to being in. Facing elimination in Game 5 at the Chase Center, their backs were up against the wall facing off with the Los Angeles Lakers. With Steve Kerr as head coach, Golden State has found plenty of success in NBA playoff elimination games and Wednesday was yet another tally in the win column.
The Warriors were able to stave off elimination for at least one more game, winning 121-106. The tone for the game was set right from the opening tip by none other than Draymond Green, who was aggressive in the early going.
That aggressiveness can be attributed to being called out by player development coach, Jacob Rubin. He lit a fire under Green telling him that his presence hadn’t been felt much yet against the Lakers.
“That’s coming out aggressive on both ends of the floor. That’s verbally so everyone hears you on the floor. I felt a little disrespected when he said it,” Green said. “I knew it was on me to come out and set the tone for our guys. … Season is on the line, backs against the wall. You got to come out and give it all you got. That was my mindset.”
Green is known more for his defense and playmaking, but it was his scoring that took center stage on Wednesday night. He poured in 20 points, going 7-of-11 from the field, 1-of-2 on 3-pointers and a perfect 5-for-5 at the charity stripe.
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It was certainly surprising to see Green attempt so many shots as he had only taken 28 in the first four games and nine in the last two combined. He remained a presence on the glass, grabbing 10 rebounds to go along with four assists, two steals and one block in a well-rounded game.
“I think you just expect it in a situation like this where you’re facing elimination,” Kerr said. “Draymond is one of the great competitors I’ve ever been around. So you just expect him to bring it. I didn’t say anything to him. He doesn’t need any pep talks from me, that’s for sure.”
Green was one of six Warriors to score in double-figures in the game. Stephen Curry led the way with 27, while Andrew Wiggins poured in 25 as well. It was a welcome change to see Curry not have to carry the load himself, as Wiggins stepped up with Klay Thompson struggling with his shot.
“This was the best game Wiggs has played since he’s been back,” Kerr said of Wiggins, who returned to the court April 15 for the Warriors’ first game of the playoffs after missing two months because of a family matter. “We ask so much of him defensively, and in any playoff series, he’s going to end up on the opponent’s best player. In this series, that’s obviously LeBron. And thank God we have Wiggs because he can play all night.”
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While it was certainly nice extending the series with a dominant Game 5 victory, Golden State knows their job isn’t close to being finished. Green is going to continue setting the tone, saying, “Our job isn’t done. We’re still facing elimination, and we’ll be facing elimination for the rest of the series. So got to have the same mindset. Back against the wall, you got to come out fighting.”
The Warriors will head back to Los Angeles for Game 6 at the Crypto.com Arena. They are now 8-2 in elimination games under Kerr, as they seem to always rise to the occasion when a good performance is needed most.
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Golden State could receive a huge break depending on the status of Anthony Davis. He was hit in the head midway through the fourth quarter and was reportedly feeling woozy, needing a wheelchair to get him into the locker room.
While a concussion has not been mentioned for Davis, his status is certainly up in the air. If he is sidelined, the Warriors’ chances of winning Game 6 and forcing a decisive Game 7 over the weekend increase exponentially. But, you can be sure that they will be ready to go regardless of who is taking the court in purple and gold Friday night.
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