Draymond Green says Nikola Jokic ‘coming with vengeance’ in Game 2
Nikola Jokic gave props to the two for challenging his shots and slowing
him. But Green believes the Joker’s frustrations will only fuel the
reigning league MVP.
Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after making a 3-point
basket against the Sacramento Kings in the first half at Golden 1 Center
on April 3, 2022 in Sacramento, (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after making a 3-point
basket against the Sacramento Kings in the first half at Golden 1 Center
on April 3, 2022 in Sacramento, (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
By MADELINE KENNEY | mkenney@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: April 18, 2022 at 4:30 a.m. | UPDATED: April 18, 2022 at 7:02
p.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/04/18/draymond-green-says-nikola-jokic-coming-with-vengeance-in-game-2/

SAN FRANCISCO – Draymond Green compared guarding Nikola Jokic to playing
chess.

“It’s a different game within the game,” Green explained Sunday after
practice, “that you have to try to play against a guy like that [who’s]
that smart.”

Jokic is one of the league’s most complete players and has carried the
undermanned Denver Nuggets in what has been another MVP-caliber season
for the All-Star center. His scoring and playmaking abilities make
scheming against him arduous for any team.

“A guy like that, it can’t just be like, ‘Oh, I’m trying to do this one
thing.’ There are so many other things that you have to do because if
not, he just quickly figures stuff out and takes advantage of it,” Green
said.

The good news for the Warriors? They have a chess grandmaster in Green.

Green has long been lauded for his high basketball IQ and defensive
prowess, which Stephen Curry reiterated after the Warriors took Game 1
of the series Saturday.

“His IQ is crazy just in terms of being able to make those adjustments
based on who he’s guarding and what challenge it is. He’s just always in
the mix, he doesn’t have to prove who he is anymore, but he continues to
go out and impact the game,” Curry said. “The eye test is crazy when
you’re watching him where he’s at one the floor.”

Jokic had 25 points on 25 shots and 10 rebounds in Game 1 as he dealt
with a suffocating defensive effort primarily from Green and Kevon Looney.

Afterwards, Jokic gave props to the two for challenging his shots and
slowing him. But Green believes the Joker’s frustrations will only fuel
the reigning league MVP.

“I feel like he’s gonna try to come on and give me 40 [points], 15
[rebounds] and 15 [assists] the next game,” Green said. “He’s pissed
off, and he’s coming back with vengeance tomorrow.”

No one can totally stop Jokic from finding a way to score. That’s why
making his life as difficult as possible while he’s on the court has
been one of the Warriors’ top priorities of the first round. And Green
is a proud leader of the charge.

There will be others who have and will continue to be tasked with the
challenge. Looney, Nemanja Bjelica, Otto Porter Jr. and Andre Iguodala
all had looks on Jokic Saturday. Shoot, even 6-foot-3 guard Gary Payton
II went after Jokic.

“All the guys who saw time on him at some point or another, we just have
to try to make things tough,” Green said.

But Green will take the brunt of the responsibility of squaring up to
Jokic. And he realizes that’s no easy feat even if the Warriors were
able to get under the 6-foot-11 Serbian’s skin in Game 1.

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“When you’re playing against a great player, they’re gonna score,” he
said. “You’re not locking down a great player, he’s the MVP of the NBA
for a reason, and he’s possibly the MVP of the NBA again for a reason…
He’s an incredible, incredible player [and] very, very tough to guard.”

If there’s any player on the Warriors who can do it, it’s Green.

Though Green struggled to return to game pace last month after a back
injury kept him out for about three months, Green played some of his
best basketball of the year in the final few regular season games. He
said he was a bit of an emotional wreck last week during practice as he
anxiously awaited to return to the playoff stage for the first time in
nearly three years.

But come Game 1, Green said he “felt the most at peace and calm” in a
long time.

“I like this time of year, this is when basketball is fun,” he said.

And Green’s ready for the intensity to get turned up a notch in each
game as the series goes on, starting with Game 2 at Chase Center Monday.

“Everybody’s got to ramp it up,” he said, “not just against Joker, it’s
everywhere.”

--
Madeline Kenney | Warriors reporter