NBA Finals 2016 Cleveland vs Golden State: Can Golden State Win Without Draymond Green in Game 5?
Green's Suspension Could Be the Deciding Factor of Game 5
The NBA has officially suspended Golden State Warriors' forward Draymond Green for Game 5 of the NBA championship series against Cleveland. The suspension comes from yet another flagrant foul done by Green when he hit Cleveland star Lebron James in the groin during a scuffle in the final minutes of Game 4.
The official NBA website notes that this is Green's third flagrant foul of the playoffs. Previously, the star forward was given a Flagrant Foul 2 and fined $25,000 after kicking Oklahoma City's Steven Adams during the Western Conference finals.
So what does this mean for Golden State? Can the Warriors still win even without Green?
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Who Guards LeBron?
The biggest job Green has, and probably the most important job of all, is guarding LeBron James. While James' stats have not seen much decline during the series, it can be said that the tough, physical defense that Green provides prevents James from dominating.
In fact, it can be said that the altercation leading to the flagrant foul can be linked to the frustration Green had on James during the entire game.
Without Green, veteran Andre Iguodala will replace him for the majority of Game 5. The tactic has worked before as Iguodala did a masterful job in the 2015 finals guarding James on route to the championship.
What Will Golden State Lose?
Besides the obvious 14 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, the Warriors are losing a prominent emotional leader on the court. While the scoring is mostly done by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Green provides the emotional fire behind the team.
Warriors center Andrew Bogut has stated that "Green's success is based on his emotional play." Bogut claims that the team doesn't blame Green for what happened, and that they know that is just how he is.
Can the Warriors Still Win Game 5?
The biggest question now is without Green can the Warriors still win? The answer is not entirely clear. While the Warriors have been able to dominate Cleveland throughout the series with superior benchplay and outside shooting, Green's absence can be a tipping point in their opponent's favor.
The Warriors do have a homecourt advantage for Game 5, which will be a factor in the game. However, it will all depend on which Cleveland team shows up, the team which dominated for a 30 point victory in Game 3 or the team the folded in a 30 point defeat in Game 2.
Game 5 of the NBA Championship series will be played on June 13 at the Oracle Arena.
