Golden State Warriors 118-108 Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 talking points

#4 Draymond Green getting the non-shooter treatment

Draymond Green

2016-17 stats: 10.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 41.8 FG% and 30.8 3P-FG%

2017-18 stats: 11.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 45.4 FG% and 30.5 3P-FG%

Warriors' death line-ups have been unstoppable for the past two years but the other thing that's been around for the past two years is the target on their back. Teams are finding news ways and adapting in order to dethrone the Dubs.

As clearly visible, Draymond Green is pretty much averaging similar figures to last season, even his shooting percentages are pretty much similar. However, teams are picking their poison and preferring to leave Green open as compared to Curry, Klay Thompson or Kevin Durant when the reigning champs shell out their small line-up to close the game. This happened quite blatantly in this game. The Cavaliers were allowing Green to shoot the long ball, and given that he went 0-of-5, their decision seems to be spot-on.

Oppositions have decided to keep the defender closer to the paint than to the Green, when he is at the 3-point line. This clearly messes with the Warriors' spacing on the floor but that doesn't seem to have affected their win-loss record so far. Nonetheless, Golden State will have to make some adjustment to counter this move come Playoff time.