Green-Durant fiasco: Loyalty vs money
Are the Golden State Warriors self-destructing?
It looks like they are. For choosing Kevin Durant in his row with Draymond Green in the aftermath of the Warriors’ loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, the GSW big bosses served notice they’re ready to lose Green who has been one of the main cogs to the team’s success over the past four years
By the looks of it though, the Warriors, who are seeking three-peat in NBA season 2k19, stand to lose both If reports were true that it is, in fact, Durant who they had already lost.
A teammate, who requested anonymity, swore to the Athletic: “There is already no way Durant is coming back,” which Internet lip readers suggest that Durant confirmed the same in the immediate aftermath of Monday’s exchange with Green on the bench, possibly muttering to himself, ‘That’s why I’m out.’”
Which came as a confirmation, too, of Durant’s statement during the team’s pre-season opening media day of his intention to leave the Warriors comes the free agency next summer.
Then what? Green, having lost his faith to a franchise that had previously stood by him when he similarly lost his cool in the past, can, likewise, leave in free agency the following summer. Thus, leaving the Warriors holding a proverbial empty bag.
The GSW organization showed its hand, revealing that when the deck is stacked against them, they would rather Green silence his emotions than risk hurting Durant’s.
The problem stemmed from what happened during the dying seconds of the Golden State’s defeat to Los Angeles when after collaring the defensive board off a miss by the Clippers, raced to their front court failing to pass the leather to Durant who was himself running behind him.
Green lost his dribble and the ball while looking for a teammate to pass to and the chance for an outright victory. The contest went into overtime and the Warriors collecting their second defeat.
The Warriors, who were still, playing without spiritual leader Stephen Curry due to injury and the suspended Green rebounded to subdue the Atlanta Hawks next but were overwhelmed by the Houston Rockets.
That overwhelming defeat of the Rockets, whom the Warriors barely hurdled, in the Western Conference Finals last season, was, according to NBA watchers, a bad sign of what to come in the Warriors’ title-defending campaign.
According to NBA great Isaiah during the post-game television discussion, the incident could have been reached this what looks like incorrigible situation had Durant not been remised in his responsibility as the team leader.
In the absence of Curry, KD could have automatically assumed the leadership he being an MVP, Finals MVP and an All Star. He could’ve gathered his teammates during pre-overtime huddle and told them, “ Look guys, we haven’ lost the game yet. There’s still the extra five minutes to play. So let’s play and win ,” instead of confronting Green that resulted in the verbal altercation that was extended up to the locker room and beyond days after.
For another basketball great, Chris Webber, the GSW management should be the last to mete out suspension on its players, the issue being an internal concern.
For the records, Green, along with Curry, Andre Igoudola and even Klay Thompson, has always been the Warriors’ playmaker since their rise to fame. Sure he had committed errors but those are parts of the game and should not be blamed on him alone.
As a receiver of the pass, Durant should’ve stayed within the view of the passer and not hide behind.
The post Green-Durant fiasco: Loyalty vs money appeared first on The Manila Times Online.