NBA

Green aims to 'spark' Warriors, despite losing return

By Sports Desk January 16, 2024 574

Draymond Green enjoyed his return to action for the Golden State Warriors, and is now looking to add "spark to this team".

Green returned from an indefinite suspension for a history of misconduct in the Warriors' clash with the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

After missing the last 16 games, Green came onto the court to a chorus of boos from the Grizzlies fans during the first quarter.

He scored two 3-pointers and finished with seven rebounds and four assists in 23 minutes on the court, but the Warriors lost 116-107.

"It was fun being back on the court," Green said.

"Getting the chance to play basketball, that's always fun. It was a little weird going out of the tunnel to go shoot and do my pregame, but after that it just settled down.

"I think [the minutes] will go up pretty fast, but until it does I will try to be the best I can be in the minutes I have and bring a spark to this team."

The Grizzlies were short-handed, with Ja Morant out for the rest of the season and Desmond Bane set to miss up to six weeks due to an ankle injury.

Yet the Warriors could not get the better of their hosts as they slumped to an eighth defeat in the space of 11 games.

"Their game plan was pretty simple. Shoot as many 3s as possible and get into transition as often as possible," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, whose team are 12th in the Western Conference.

"Then for us to foul 25 times to their 21, that's really the story. They gained belief as they went.

"All of these guys are in the NBA. We tell them that before every game like this. These guys are in the NBA for a reason.

"They knew they had to do that and we knew they had to do that. We didn't play the game that could keep them from doing that."

Green did not hold back in his thoughts on the Warrior's defense.

"Individuals make up a team. Individually our defense sucks, so in turn our team defense sucks," he said.

"If we've got guys that will take pride in themselves and play defense, one through however many guys we have, then it is solvable. If guys won't take pride in defense, then it's not. It's very simple."

Last modified on Tuesday, 16 January 2024 10:07
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