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Draymond Green says the Warriors have been worse with him on the court

By Nathan Beighle

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after being fouled by the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter at American Airlines Center on January 05, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after being fouled by the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter at American Airlines Center on January 05, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Warriors’ Draymond Green is a four-time All-Star forward. He’s among the most versatile players in the NBA, able to contribute heavily on both sides of the court.

However, he hasn’t been a big fan of his play since returning from a back injury earlier this month. Green’s injury forced him to miss 30 games from early January to the middle of March. Since joining the team again, Green’s play has been dismal.

The Golden State Warriors are 1-5 over their last 6 games, and All-Star forward Draymond Green thinks he’s been a large part of the problem.

Green’s offensive involvement hasn’t necessarily taken a hit, but his lack of shooting has been a notable flaw.

It’s one of the strangest developments for Green as he shot over 30% from deep for five straight seasons. For the last seven years, Green’s three-point shooting percentage has continued to decline each season. He’s not at just 26.5% from three this year.

That’s been a reason for his dip in scoring, averaging just 7.3 points per game. Green is still among the favorites for Defensive Player of the Year although the missed 30-plus games is going to hurt his argument for the award.

Nonetheless, the impact is still there, and Green’s a valuable member of the Warriors. He clearly hasn’t felt like himself since returning six games ago, having yet to eclipse 30 minutes in a single game.

"“I’ve never really been on a team that gets worse when I’m on the floor. That’s kind of where we are right now,” Green said following the Warriors recent loss to Washington per ESPN’s Kendra Andrews."

Green makes a fair point in the sense of his play really hasn’t been great recently. He’s averaging just 4.2 points per game and has yet to hit double figures in his six games back. He’s also at just 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.

Green’s play has slumped throughout his career when two-time MVP Stephen Curry doesn’t play, and with Curry likely out until the playoffs with a sprained foot, things could stay ugly for the star forward.

The Warriors have Memphis, Phoenix and Utah in their next 3, so things certainly won’t get easier for them as an organization.

Next. Top 30 Golden State Warriors players in franchise history. dark

Just 2 games up on the Mavericks for third place in the West and a mere 3 games up on the Jazz who sit in 5th, the next few weeks prior to the playoffs may be a tough stretch for the Warriors. They’ll need Green to bounce back, sooner rather than later.

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