Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green said on The Draymond Green Show that he agrees with Nikola Jokić’s prediction that low-post play is fading out of the NBA. Jokić told Bennett Durando of The Denver Post that officials allow post defenders to push and grab more than perimeter defenders, according to Bleacher Report.
The Denver Nuggets center said that in five to 10 years, the low post may not “even be really out there.” Jokić also said the game has changed about four times since he entered the league and that he expects it to change again within five years, according to Eurohoops. He added that he was not complaining. He also said size is not much of an advantage in today’s NBA and that teams try to put smaller defenders on him, per Bleacher Report. The three-time MVP led Denver to the 2023 championship.
“I would tell you, I agree. I think the low post will continue to become more and more extinct,” Green said. “When I first came in the league 14 years ago, you had two bigs in the low post, getting the ball thrown into them and them trying to get a bucket. Everything has changed.”
Draymond Green On Officiating In The Paint
Earlier in the episode, Green said former Warriors coach Mark Jackson was right when he said Stephen Curry ruined the game. Golden State drafted Green 35th overall in 2012, according to Stats Crew.
“We spoke about Steph Curry early. That’s a part of the reason it changed,” Green said. “Analytics, how much more a three-point shot is worth than a two-point shot. All of these things. I agree with Joker.”
“If you’re a big with a smaller guy on you, they’ll let that guy bump you, and you go up to shoot, he can bump your legs, and they won’t call anything,” Green said. “It is 1,000% refereed differently in them trenches.”
Draymond Green’s NFL Comparison
The play Green described came from a recent NFL game between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers. He said a friend who played defensive tackle at Michigan State told him the hit would not draw a flag.
“There’s a play from the NFL a few days ago where offensive lineman for the Denver Broncos see the defensive end from the Carolina Panthers try to take an inside spin move, and soon as he’s spinning, the offensive lineman come clean him out,” Green said. “I mean, he obliterated the defensive end.”
Green did not say the defensive end’s last name on air, saying he did not want to mispronounce it. He said the hit looked to him like an old crackback or blindside block.
“Them offensive linemen is taught that if you don’t have work, go find work,” Green said, relaying his friend’s explanation. “And he see him spinning inside, they are taught to level him like that. He said it’s officiated different in the trenches.”
“Obviously, this ain’t that, but I get what Joker is getting at,” Green said. “I said all of that to say it is 1,000% different in them trenches, and they don’t call fouls. I think there’s a chance that the post may come back, but it’s a higher possibility that it goes away.”
Golden State’s first win of the season came against the Nuggets in Denver. That win started the Warriors’ current eight-game streak.
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