Golden State Warriors: Alpha Dog Rankings coming into December

Oct 19, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
5 of 6
December 1, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots the basketball against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Rockets defeated the Warriors 132-127 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 1, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots the basketball against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Rockets defeated the Warriors 132-127 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Draymond Green has asserted his impact this season on many occasions and that should only continue.

Draymond Green has earned the nod to jump up one spot on this list. He was one of the best players on the floor against Houston and he has been that way all season. While he does have this weird thing with kicking at times, that doesn’t take away from the piece of mind and toughness he brings to this team.

The Warriors defense has greatly improved, and the main reason is the guy you see in the photo above. He has brought his ability to anchor the defense to a new level with the absence of Andrew Bogut. Green has a far from exciting stat line, and that is very deceptive of who he really is to this team.

With averages of 10.7 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game, 7.0 assists per game, and 1.7 blocks per game, you would think he is merely a role player. That could not be further from the reality as Draymond Green is a de-facto play-maker, defensive stopper, and High IQ leader that the Warriors depend on to all of the winning things.

He is the type of player that never say die, and he takes pride in keeping this team off of life-support even in the most dismal looking moments. Without the specimen that is Draymond Green, there is no guaranteed outcome as to what position Golden State would be in.