Warriors find value in more limited new role for Draymond Green

Draymond Green bodied Kawhi Leonard. He kept up with Kevin Durant. Chased Shae Gilgous-Alexander.

The former Defensive Player of the Year’s past three assignments have been a “badge of honor,” he told reporters Saturday, three days after his 36th birthday.  

On the heels of a month where, statistically and anecdotally, he was one of the Warriors’ most detrimental players, Green’s latest challenge also shows that doesn’t have to be the case. He is not the same player he once was — but he doesn’t have to be.

“The last few games, if you think about it …  (Green) guarded three of the hardest guys on earth,” coach Steve Kerr said. “And has done a phenomenal job.”

Kerr has talked openly about what a trying year it has been for Green, who has had to come to terms with not only the diminished role and performance that accompanies aging, but to do so without the help of Jimmy Butler and, more recently, Steph Curry.

It has increasingly been in the Warriors’ best interest for Green to take a backseat — or a seat on the bench — particularly when he can’t wingman for Curry. Over the course of February, which Curry missed entirely with knee inflammation, Green accumulated a negative-89 plus-minus in 210 minutes, worst among Golden State’s roster by more than 30 points.

Green’s defensive acumen never dimmed. And now it’s being featured in a different way.

“Give Draymond the toughest task and have a big guy behind him,” Kerr said. “It’s a good formula.”

Green has always been a difference-maker defensively, but he would typically act as more of an air-traffic controller, directing the defense from down low. That set-up had its shortcomings, asking the 6-foot-5 Green to play center more often than Kerr was comfortable.

Small-ball five was never Green’s favorite assignment, either. It was born out of necessity. Besides Kevon Looney (6-foot-8), it’s been a while since the Warriors had a big guy they could put behind Green.

That’s no longer the case with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, at least when either one is healthy enough to play. They give Golden State size it hasn’t had since Andrew Bogut.

They could also help prolong Green’s career, as evidenced by the past three games.

Freeing up Green to take on the opponent’s top scorer accomplishes two things: 1) It reduces the size disadvantage and the physical toll that comes with it, and 2) allows the Warriors to minimize Green’s minutes while maximizing their value.

Look at Green’s substitution pattern the past three games. With little exception, whenever Leonard, Durant or Gilgous-Alexander checked in, so did Green; when they checked out, Green headed to the bench. His responsibility was singular.

Green was still a game-worst minus-18 against the Clippers, but he outmatched Leonard in the first half before the Warriors fell apart in a team effort. He was a plus-12 in their improbable win against Durant and the Rockets, and he was an even zero in a seven-point loss to the Thunder.

“I am a very prideful person. I just can’t go out there and get murdered,” Green said after their close loss in Oklahoma City. “It’s gonna happen when you’re playing against great players like that. At the same time, for me, I just can’t go lay down.”

Without Curry, Green serves little purpose offensively. The ball is in his hands less and he isn’t enough of a 3-point threat — 32.4% this season — to give the Warriors the spacing they need.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

But he remains a lockdown defender. Time and time again, he denied his matchup from getting the ball, though the seal did break eventually (Leonard and Durant for 23 points, SGA 27).

A common critique of Green throughout his career has been that, without Curry, he plays less inspired (or not at all). Pitting him against primetime assignments alleviates any concern of that.

“I think our coaching staff has figured out I have a lot more energy when I got that kind of assignment,” Green said. “I’m 36 years old. Three games straight. That’s a badge of honor. So I get excited as hell because it’s a challenge.”

And a new one. Whereas playing an undersized center required Green to set the defense, serve as the last line of help defense and out-rebound a bigger man, shadowing three of the top scorers in the NBA — with three entirely unique playing styles — is a different challenge.

“The moment you relax you lose,” he said. “Because if you’re a step behind, now they have the advantage. And you don’t make up advantages.

“If you try to make up a disadvantage that Shae’s created for you, you’re gonna foul. If you try to make up the disadvantage that KD creates, you just can’t – you dead. He’s gonna raise up and there’s nothing you can do about it. Same with Kawhi.”

Those guys will get theirs at the end of the day — it’s gonna happen — just as Gilgous-Alexander did with 44 seconds left to seal the game Saturday. He crossed over and stepped back in front of Green before draining the decisive 3-pointer.

“I’m disgusted I gave up that 3 at the end. It was too much rhythm. I should’ve pressed up more. I’m beating myself up about that,” Green said. “But to draw those responsibilities at this point in my career is amazing.”

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com