Draymond Green getting suspended was good for the NBA
52) Just so long as the Warriors Won Game 3…which they surely did!
Draymond Green got handed down his 1 game suspension for Game 3 of the Warriors v Kings series, late on Tuesday night, with the Warriors staring at an 0-2 hole. The league office’s decision to suspend Draymond, made this the most fascinating sports story intersected with popular culture, nation-wide! And fortunately for everyone (that isn’t a Kings fan), the Warriors won Game 3.
As for myself, a true fan of the NBA, equipped with the knowledge and passion of the game, where I am intimately comfortable discussing the game with any other hoop-head around, I would say that I spent an embarrassing amount of time on the Tuesday before the suspension, googling Draymond Green’s name. Some of the stuff I came across was absolutely hilarious.
https://twitter.com/jordann1333272/status/1648547208541659136?s=42&t=xzPKtlDxJBwpkUDM0Jdbbg
By the time I woke up Wednesday morning, it was official, Draymond Green was suspended. This was (after so much reporting the day before indicating he wouldn’t be suspended) to the surprise of many.
I know many hoop heads who might have been upset by this ruling. But, it created interest among non-hoop heads too. And that is where the NBA was able to capitalize most. When I showed my (non-sports fan and female) friend the Draymond Green stomp on Domantas Sabonis, her reaction was “what the heck did you expect him to do? He was trying to leap over the guy and happened to step on his stomach. It’s better than his arm or leg”. Her reaction was the first time I realized, “Oh Wow! Maybe Draymond really did step on him by accident.” But, it also reminded me of the cardinal rule in life - which is “It’s not what you do, but it’s how you react to what you do”.
As it turns out, the best case scenario happened for the NBA. The Warriors rallied behind the suspension, and played a flawless game against the Kings to make this a now incredibly compelling 2-1 series. This is aside from all the interesting subplots going on throughout the league.
Here are 10 other compelling story-lines I have found from these NBA Playoffs
10 - LeBron James is on a team still playing for titles in his 20th season in the league. I don’t think people realize how long he’s been in the league. His presence alone makes the most casual of fans feel like they are still plugged into the league.
9 - The Nets are the first team to get bounced out of the playoffs this year, against the cross city rival 76ers in an 0-4 sweep.
8 - The Knicks might actually advance to the 2nd round of the playoffs!! They are up 2-1 on the Cavs, and honestly I don’t think anyone anticipated the Knicks having this good of a year. If they make round 2, they will have matched the success of the Carmelo Anthony lead Knicks had in 7 seasons here. That is remarkable! And it is also a damning indictment on Melo’s career (if his career wasn’t indicted already).
7 - How cool is it that Philly, Boston and both NY teams are in the playoffs!? This is only the 2nd time in the 21st century where these four historic franchises have been in the Playoffs together.
Don’t believe me? Take a look at the numbers for yourself!
Playoff appearances in the 21st century by these 4 teams :
1) 2000 made the Eastern Conference Finals
2-5) 2001,2004,2011,2012 1st round playoff exit
6) 2013 made the Eastern Conference Semifinals
7) 2021 1st round playoff exit
8) 2023 Pending
Missed the Playoffs 16x → in 02,03,05,06,07,08,09,10,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,22
KEY
+ denotes Champion
* denotes made the finals,
^^denotes made conference finals
^denotes mad conference semifinals>
Made the playoffs in 02*,03*, 2004^,05,06^,07^,13,14^,15,19,20,2021^,22,23+
<2 Finals appearances, as the New Jersey Nets>
Missed the playoffs 10x - in 00,01,08,09,10,11,12,16,17,18
Made the playoffs in 00^,01*,02,03^,05,08,09,2011,12^,18^,19^,20,2021^,22^,23^
<1 Finals appearance>
Missed playoffs 9x - 04,06,07,2010,13,14,15,16,17
Boston Celtics 19 playoff appearances - won a total of 24 playoff series , Celtics also have made the playoffs for a league-wide leading 9 years in a row.
Made the playoffs in 02^^,03^,04,05,08+,09^,2010*,11^,12^^,13, 15,16,17^^,18^^,19^,20^^,2021,22*,23+
<1 Championship and 2 other Finals appearances>
Missed the playoffs 5x - 00,01,06,07,2014
6 - The Clippers are still the Clippers. Yes, Billy Crystal’s team appears to still be cursed. How else do you explain all these injuries? Especially when you look at their locker-room neighbors, and how fortunately the Basketball Gods appear to look upon the Lakers.
5 - Having the best record STILL MATTERS! The Denver Nuggets might very well make the finals given the attrition in the whole western conference. They got the easiest draw against the dysfunctional T-Wolves. And they have the most durable super-star player (knock on wood) in two-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
4 - Since Pat Riley has been affiliated with Miami Heat either as the Coach or GM in 1995-96, the Heat has been in the playoffs 22 out of a possible 28 years. Since the year 2000, the Heat have made the playoffs 18 times, only missing it 6 times in 02, 03, 08, 15,17 & 19.
The only teams to have more playoff appearances in the 2000s is the Celtics - 19 times, and the Spurs 20 times. The Mavericks are tied with the Heat, having made it 18 times. Out of these 24 seasons, the Heat have made the Finals the most 6x - 06,2011,2012,2013,2014 & 2020, having won 3 of them for a record of 3-3 in the Finals. The Spurs have made the finals 5x in this century going 4-1. The Celtics have made it 3x this century going 1-2, and the Mavericks have made it 2x this century going 1-1. It’s incredibly unlikely that the Heat will win the finals this year (let alone get out of the first round), but the Celtics do have a great shot to add to their finals appearances number this century.
3 - The dynastic Warriors are still going strong! Hence why my story started with Draymond Green and all the fire and attention he (AND HIS TEAM) have gotten.
2- The Milwaukee Bucks have the most exciting and likable super-star in the League in Giannis Antetokounmpo. I can not find the article that indicates why Nike has never elevated Giannis to a LeBron or even Kevin Durant type level, but - honestly some say it’s because he’s too foreign. Or it’s that the Nike camp never wanted to put him in the same orbit as LeBron, as there are plenty of rumors out there. But, keep in mind there’s a whole Disney movie out about Giannis’s life and his remarkable story from living a life of poverty in Greece to NBA Super-Duper-Star in America!
PS - I’m just hopeful Giannis’s back heals soon enough this postseason so that he can add on to his already amazing legacy.
1 - As for my picks for who will win the Championship or win the Regular Season MVP, I find both stories among the most over-covered story-lines you can find. And I just don’t want to be redundant when there is so much info out there about people’s debates on who MVP should be or who will win the finals.
Either way, it’s NBA Playoff Basketball, and it is fantastic!
Peace & Love
-JPJ
Draymond being Draymond, LMAO!!!