During Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, Draymond Green hit Steven Adams in the jewels with a kick while going up for a shot. Some say Green did it to draw contact and it’s a habit of his. Some say it’s an unnatural movement for someone to go up like that.
Well, after hours of deliberation from the league and hours of waiting from the basketball world, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical had the news:
The NBA will not suspend Golden State's Draymond Green for Game 4, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) May 23, 2016
Ken Berger of CBS Sports has additional information:
Draymond Green's fine is $25,000, league source confirms. Upgrade to flagrant-2, no suspension.
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) May 23, 2016
In lesser news, Dahntay Jones of the Cavs was suspended for nailing Bismack Biyombo in that area with his hand. So if we’re going by that precedent, then Green should’ve been suspended. You can make a case when it comes to intent but, regardless, the outcomes were different.
Plus is Green getting the star treatment? Dahntay Jones (once a starter for the Western Conference finalist Denver Nuggets in 2009) these days is only a bit player for the Cavs. Did the NBA want to make sure that both teams are in full strength (which is what we want for a playoff series, anyway)? No matter what, everybody was going to be divided with the NBA’s ruling.
All of this will be moot if the Thunder win Game 4.
Follow Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass for all tweets about the NBA and terrible pop music. Also, check out his podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.
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