The phrase “broke the code” has been the unofficial mantra of the 2022 NBA playoffs.
Miami Heat lifer Udonis Haslem was the latest to utter those three words, directed at Warriors forward Draymond Green. And in classic Green fashion, he embraced the confrontation.
Following the Warriors’ series-clinching victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, Green appeared on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” and, when pestered to answer the question by Shaquille O’Neal, predicted Golden State would play the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
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At the time, the Celtics held a three-games-to-two lead in the Eastern Conference finals over Miami and were coming off a dominant 93-80 victory in Game 5. The Heat shocked the basketball world by winning Game 6 on the road to keep the series alive, and after the game Haslem said Green "broke the code" with the prediction and called it "disrespectful."
In an interview with Mark J. Spears of Andscape, Green made it clear that he enjoyed Haslem's comments.
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“It was exciting to know that people pay that much attention to my words and what I say," Green said. "Wow. They really watched what I had to say and that motivated them? I’m getting better at this motivational thing. That’s great."
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Unfortunately for Haslem and the Heat, Green's motivation didn't last into Game 7 as Miami fell 100-96 to Boston, setting up the 2022 NBA Finals matchup between the Warriors and Celtics.