Draymond

Green

Green is a great player who ultimately could make the Hall of Fame when he calls it a career, but at this point of his career, he’s typically not counted on to provide much offense. Green came up with a big playoff performance Tuesday in Game 1 that included 18 points and four made three-pointers. While Green can’t be counted on for scoring like that consistently, he might be needed for more points with Stephen Curry (hamstring) unlikely to be available for Game 2.

Green did not provide much value as a scorer, which is par for his course. But he was impactful in other ways, including recording a team-high 10 assists and four “stocks.” With Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler leading the way offensively, Green’s mastery of the “little things” will be critical in Golden State’s first-round matchup with Houston. Game 1 is on Sunday night.

Green finished Tuesday’s victory with his first triple-double of the season and was vital during the fourth quarter. The Warriors forward tallied six rebounds and four assists, combining with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler to help pull the team over the finish line. Over the past two weeks, Green has provided fifth-round value in eight-cat formats despite shooting 39.3 percent from the field. Steve Kerr’s decision to go with Green as his starting center came at a good time for fantasy managers looking to win a championship, as this change has raised Draymond’s ceiling.

Green got off to a ridiculous start to this game. He scored 18 points and hit four three-pointers in just the first half. That was enough to tie his third-highest scoring performance of the season and his second-most three-pointers in a game this season. Just in one half. He only added one more triple in the second half, but he was able to make more of an impact on the defensive end to help strengthen his case for Defensive Player of the Year. Green has truly started to shine in recent weeks.

Green had a rough night shooting the ball but did everything else for the Warriors on Tuesday. He hit double figures in rebounds for the first time since March 3, and his last two games have been elite from a defensive production standpoint. After recording three steals and five blocks in Monday’s loss to the Nuggets, Green put up another two steals and four rejections on Tuesday. Since the All-Star break, Draymond has provided fourth-round value in eight-cat formats.

Post only played eight minutes in Monday’s loss to the Nuggets, with Denver’s decision not to play Nikola Jokic factoring into the rookie’s lack of playing time. Post is dealing with a right ankle impingement, and the Warriors could choose to start Draymond Green at the five if the rookie cannot play. As for Podziemski, Tuesday is reportedly the day the Warriors have targeted for his return from a strained back. If available, he can absorb some of the minutes that would have gone to Stephen Curry, who will not play on Tuesday.

Green did a bit of everything in this game and came close to recording a 5x5. Aside from his four turnovers, this was an excellent night in the box score for him. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for Golden State to maintain their winning ways and take advantage of Denver missing Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Steve Kerr said that Stephen Curry could rest against the Bucks on Tuesday, and it’s unclear if that will extend to Green. If he plays, Green should continue to be a strong option in the box score.

Dealing with a lower back strain, Curry’s availability will significantly impact the Warriors and fantasy basketball. If he cannot play against the Nuggets, Buddy Hield would figure more prominently in the rotation, potentially as a starter. As for Post, his missing Monday’s game would mean more time at the five for Draymond Green, who started Saturday’s win over the Knicks in that position.

Smaller defenders tend to succeed more against Karl-Anthony Towns than traditional centers, so the Warriors will start Green at the five. With Quinten Post being moved to the bench, Santos moves into the starting five. He offers limited streaming value in this role, while there’s no need to roster Post.

Green has been incredible on the defensive end of the floor, especially over the past couple of months. However, he made a difference on the offensive end during Thursday’s big win. He knocked down some big triples, and he set a new season-high for scoring. Managers should not get accustomed to this offensive production, but it was nice to see he still has some gas in the tank. Golden State will close out the week against the Knicks on Saturday, and they have a four-game week coming up after that.