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Draymond Green has played like a significantly different version of himself during this postseason after losing 25 pounds with a strict eating regimen that started in March, yet the biggest change he has made for these Golden State Warriors is channeling his anger and unleashing wrath on his opponents instead of the officials:
“It's all about, ‘Is [the fire] working for me or is it working against me?'” Green told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. “When I'm channeling it to work for me, I think I'm one of the baddest motherf***ers on the planet. When it gets the best of me, I'm not so good.”
While the Warriors' emotional engine has been known to protest calls by the referees and let his emotions get the best of him, Green has yet to pick up a technical foul since April 30, in Game 2 of the Warriors series against the Houston Rockets — one that was later rescinded by the league.
This leaner, fitter, injury-free version of Green has also helped him become the all-around playoff monster that he needed to be. The story of his diet is also well-known by now:
“Bob [Myers] said, ‘If we're going to win a championship, you have to get in shape,'” Green recalled. “I was like, ‘Oh, I know. I'm fat as hell right now. Give me two weeks. It will probably take 10 days, but give me two weeks for sure and I'll be good.
“‘My birthday is March 4, so I want to enjoy my birthday, but right after, on March 10, my diet starts.'”
Myers was surprised Green was so acutely aware of being overweight, but the regimen soon started showing results, with Green's play starting to peak as the Warriors finished out the regular season.
Much like his appetite, Green has also tuned his emotional dial, not to suppress it, but redirect it in a way that helps the team, rather than hurt it like it has in the past.
