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The Golden State Warriors have taken care of business through the first three games of the NBA Playoffs. But it hasn't been as easy for other teams and players around the league. Draymond Green made sure to point that out.
After Golden State's Game 3 win to go up 3-0 on the Denver Nuggets, Draymond Green was asked about reserve guard Gary Payton II stepping up in the moment. The Warriors star heaped praise on his teammate, but also used the opportunity to throw some shade at some playoff underperformers.
“Everybody not made for the playoffs,” said the Warriors star. “I don't know if you all have seen that around the league. But you look around the league, everybody just not cut out for the playoffs.”
Draymond could very well be referencing Rudy Gobert and the Utah Jazz. The Warriors defensive anchor has had a longstanding beef with the big man and may be using the 1-2 deficit against the Luka Doncic-less Mavs as a chance to take a shot at his downtrodden rival and former DPOY adversary. The Jazz were down 17 at the half of their embarrassing Game 3 defeat and were able to turn things around once they subbed out their All-Star center as Gobert sat for Eric Paschall in favor of some small-ball.
But it could also be a shot at Karl-Anthony Towns. His Minnesota Timberwolves held a 20-point lead not once, but twice on Thursday on their home floor but could've seal the deal as KAT took just four shots the entire game. He's had a few stinkers already this postseason from his play-in debacle against the Clippers, to his last two contests, both brutal losses for his Timberwolves. He could easily be who Draymond was referring to.
Or it could be bother of them? It's likely that Draymond Green has been privy to the other series results around the league and couldn't help but notice not everyone is stepping up to the plate. Some have faltered under the spotlight. The Warriors star himself voiced out that it's much harder than it looks.
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Via HoopsHype:
“You've got to give credit to guys who show up in the playoffs because it's just not a normal thing around this league. You look around and some guys that you think are guys are not guys in the playoffs. That's just what it is,” Draymond Green continued.
Draymond Green: "Everybody not made for the playoffs. I don't know if you've seen that around the league. You look around the league, everybody's just not cut out for the playoffs."
Wonder who he's talking about 🤔 pic.twitter.com/UJZogPCscS
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) April 22, 2022
There will always be big-time playoff performers in the NBA. The Warriors have one right now in Jordan Poole, who has been lighting it up in historic fashion over his first three cracks at postseason play.
But those performances are special exactly because it's hard to do. Draymond Green himself knows that not everybody is cut out for the playoffs. It's not just a sly slight at some of his peers, but an absolute fact.
The lackluster performances from guys like Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert serve as a cautionary counter-balance for the standout performers like Jordan Poole and Jalen Brunson. Draymond Green is simply calling things as he sees them.
