Golden State forward Draymond Green said the NBA’s lukewarm All-Star Game intensity stems from players being stretched thin by mandatory appearances during the weekend.
Speaking Friday on his podcast, Green described a string of sponsor events, community functions and media obligations that leave All-Stars with little time to prepare for the showcase. “By the time you get to the game … I get 20 minutes to shoot the basketball,” he said, adding that his normal game-day routine spans morning workouts, cardio sessions, treatment, weightlifting, shooting drills and team meetings. With that schedule compressed, Green argued, players hesitate to go full speed and risk injury.
His proposal: assign high-profile non-All-Stars to the ancillary events and allow the selected players to focus exclusively on the game itself.
Late-Game Lineup Shift
Head coach Steve Kerr has kept Green on the bench for the closing minutes of the Warriors’ last two victories, opting instead for veteran center Al Horford alongside four shooters and ball-handlers. “Al in the Phoenix game and last night was playing so well, and I think without Stephen Curry it’s easier for us to score if Al is at the five and we space the floor around him,” Kerr said after Monday’s comeback win over Memphis. “It’s harder to find lineup combinations without Stephen where we can play Dray at the four.”
Roster Changes Elevate Santos
The season-ending injury to Jimmy Butler and the trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga to Atlanta have pushed second-year wing Gui Santos into the starting five for the past five games. Kerr said the 21-year-old is now being asked to create off the dribble: “Without Jimmy, we don’t have much size at the (small forward and power forward) spots. Gui … you can see by the way he’s been playing. He’s been one of our best players. He’s consistent, gaining confidence by the day.”
Front-Office Outlook
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole reported that Golden State could re-sign Kristaps Porziņģis at a reduced figure this summer, while Horford may return on a $6 million player option. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. is still expected to target additional youth and athleticism in the offseason.
Source: Hoops Rumors
