Draymond Green’s inefficient shooting is a bit worrisome, but it’s too early in the season to declare any doom-and-gloom scenarios.
The NBA season is only a little over a week old, but that won’t stop the premature concern regarding certain players. For the Golden State Warriors, some players, like Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant have gotten off to a stellar start this season. On the other hand, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green don’t look quite like their All-Star selves through the first few games.
Green, in particular, is struggling from the field through the first five games of the season. He is shooting less than 40% from the field, 66.7% from the free throw line and a paltry 22.2% from behind the three-point line.
Yuck.
He has never been known for his efficient scoring prowess, but it is slightly concerning that Green is struggling to put the ball in the basket.
Especially, since Curry and Durant are drawing more defensive attention due to their superb starts to the season. Green’s putrid start is not good, but the former Defensive Player of the Year provides more value than scoring.
Fortunately, Green is still contributing in other areas like he usually does.
He is still leading the team in assists (7.0) and steals ( 2.0) per game, while coming in second behind Durant in rebounds per game. Green may not be shooting too well, but the Warriors are still winning games.
He is still quarterbacking a top-10 defense while playing the rugged center spot quite often so far this season.
Steve Kerr mentioned a preference to limit Draymond Green’s early season center minutes, but he’s played Green plenty at the 5 the first three games: “The game called for it tonight and I wanted to go for it.” pic.twitter.com/6OV9x5hq9U
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 22, 2018
The Warriors need Green to keep doing all of the other things that contribute to winning and, to his credit, he’s keeping up his part of the bargain.
The early concern about his shooting is understandable, but a bit overblown. In terms of the lackluster scoring, Green is a better shooter than he’s shown so far this season and there’s a good chance that he’ll improve as the year progresses.
For the Dubs regular season offense, they might not need Green to be a threat from deep. Once the postseason nears and teams start to intensify on defense, the spacing could be paramount to Golden State’s success.
That said, when it really counts, which Draymond Green will we see?