Draymond Green Has New Role For Warriors

 

Draymond Green has been around head coach Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors long enough to know what's expected of him once that ball is tipped. But with the struggles of the Dubs' bench this season, he's now been given a new task: Leading the second unit.

Draymond Green: “As a second unit, your job isn’t to go out there and build a lead. Your job is to maintain the lead. If the first unit fails to build a lead, then your job is to slow down and settle the game in. That’s just kind of been my focus." pic.twitter.com/Y0nQgh3Ag8

— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) November 24, 2022

“As a second unit, your job isn’t to go out there and build a lead,” Green told Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “Your job is to maintain the lead. If the first unit fails to build a lead, then your job is to slow down and settle the game. That’s just kind of been my focus. Just trying to help that unit play as much mistake-free basketball as we possibly can.”

That new second unit now features two starters—Green as the "conductor" along with the red-hot Andrew Wiggins, and bench players Jordan Poole, Donte DiVincenzo, and Anthony Lamb. That group opened the 2nd and 4th quarters of their blowout win over the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night. “It looks good,” Kerr said. “We’ll continue to do it.”

Draymond Green has taken over the non-Curry minutes for the Warriors’ new second unit. Here is a full rundown from Draymond on what that means. pic.twitter.com/HcHPwMGssX

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 24, 2022

“What am I doing?” Green asked. “Number one, just trying to slow the unit down. That unit should not play as fast as the first unit. It should be more methodical. It should be more sets. It should be more patterned movements as opposed to random movements and random offense. I think, for me, it’s just trying to slow that unit down and then, number two, most importantly, make sure that unit is defending.”

As noted by Slater, separating Steph Curry and Draymond for a lot of the game could present some other problems, but so far, Kerr—and Green—seem to like the effect. 

Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports