Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has an NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award to his name, so it really shouldn't come as a surprise that he would deny Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum at the rim when given the chance.
Not on Draymond's ⌚️!#DubNation | #PlayersOnly pic.twitter.com/4nzYoihyp0
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 6, 2019
Going up with the right hand on the left side of the basket is merely too easy for Green, a defensive savant who is willing to pin the ball off any quadrant of the backboard when given the opportunity. It's been an injury-plagued 2018-19 campaign for Green, who has seen his average drop to just 1.0 block per game, but it didn't take long for him to hit his average Tuesday.
Article Continues BelowEach of the past five seasons has seen Green average better than one steal and block per game. After three straight All-Star nominations from 2015-18, Green was held out this season, due primarily to early season ailments that have kept him from getting into an offensive rhythm. Still, he has collected All-NBA Defensive team honors each of the past four years.
Having long served as the captain of Golden State's defensive unit, Green is going to need to continue bringing that level of tenacity come the postseason, as the Warriors are currently allowing the second-most points per game (112.1) of any Western Conference team in line to make the playoffs. It's unlikely that Green claims his second Defensive Player of the Year trophy amongst a crowded field, but he certainly has an excellent chance of claiming another ring should he anchor his defense over the next few months.