The playoff series between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets has quickly become reminiscent of the physical basketball played in 1993, now two games in. Game 1 was notably low-scoring, with only 180 total points accumulated, and the winning Warriors scoring just 95. Both teams are demonstrating exceptionally physical defense, and as expected in this renewed rivalry, tensions are high on both sides.
In a Warriors game or series, such intensity often means Draymond Green will be involved in a confrontation. This held true in Game 2 on Wednesday, which Golden State lost 109-94, but this time, Green was the one subjected to a hard foul, not the one committing it.
With less than eight minutes left in the game and Houston holding a double-digit advantage, Jalen Green made contact with Draymond. While battling for space, Jalen delivered an elbow to Draymond’s face. The play was initially penalized as a personal foul against Jalen Green, but after video review, it was upgraded to a Flagrant-1 foul.
This is the Houston Rockets team`s debut playoff appearance, and it was only Jalen Green`s second game in the postseason. Draymond, conversely, possesses over a decade of playoff experience. He understands the boundaries, permissible actions, and how to provoke less experienced players and elicit fouls like this one. (Examples of his physicality in the series were noted.)
The Rockets secured the victory to even the series at 1-1, fueled by a spectacular performance from Jalen Green. After a difficult Game 1 where he shot poorly (3-of-15), he rebounded impressively to score 38 points in a crucial win for Houston. This game served as his playoff breakout moment, even though it included the clash with Draymond. The incident didn`t affect the outcome in a game decided by a double-digit margin, but as the series shifts to San Francisco, the challenges for the Rockets are set to increase.
The last thing the Rockets can afford is to allow Draymond to disrupt their composure, particularly since another of their key players, Dillon Brooks, has a long history of animosity with the future Warriors Hall of Famer. This series promises to be physical and defense-oriented, and the Rockets must be cautious not to cross lines and inadvertently give Golden State advantages that aren`t earned through gameplay.
Jasper Hawthorne