Draymond Green thinks the Warriors can come back from its 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals to top the Raptors.
Golden State blew a 3-1 lead to the Cavaliers in the 2016 Finals, but Green believes the two-time defending champion can complete an unlikely comeback this time around.
"That's important to have that pride, to have the faith in what we're capable of," Green told reporters Friday. "We just got to take it one game at a time. We got to win one game. We win one, then we'll build on that. But I've been on the wrong side of 3-1 before, so why not make our own history?"
The Warriors' 105-92 loss in Game 4 was its second consecutive defeat at Oracle Arena. It could be the last game the team plays in Oakland if it doesn't extend the series with a win on Monday, as Golden State is relocating to San Francisco next season.
READ| NBA Finals: Raptors one win away from title after topping Warriors
Green conceded that rattling Kawhi Leonard isn't likely, as the 6-7 wing is averaging 31.1 points in the championship series. He lit the Warriors up for a game-high 36 points on Friday.
"I don't think you're ever going to rattle Kawhi," Green said. "Not sure we used that word one time in our scouting report, we're going to rattle him. But you just try to make him take tough shots, and you live with the results."
But Green also suggested there is still hope Kevin Durant (calf) could return to help tip the scales in Golden State's favor.
"As far as KD (Durant), there's been hope that he will come back the whole series. So that's not going to change now. Obviously we hope to have him, but we'll see what happens. We don't make that final call, his — he don't really even make that final call. His body will tell him if he can get out there or not. And if he can, great; and if not, you still got to try to find a way to win the next game."
The Warriors has also felt the impact of injuries to Kevon Looney (collarbone) and Klay Thompson (hamstring), while DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Iguodala seem to be hobbled as well. Green's averages of 13.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 8.8 assists haven't been enough to combat his team's lack of depth in the final round of the postseason.
All the chips will be down at Scotiabank Arena in Game 5, and Golden State hasn't felt pressure like this in quite some time. Green, the emotional leader of the team, elaborated on what he's doing to prepare the locker room for the tough times that might be ahead.
"Just talk to the guys, don't read the press clippings, don't watch the TV, like just believe what we believe and go out there and give it what we got," Green said. "And if we fail, you live with the results, but just leave it all out there."
Comments
SHARE