Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green set his sights on Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers in a recent episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.”
Green had quite a lot to say amid Doncic’s blistering run for L.A. On Thursday, the six-time All-Star led his team to its eighth straight win with a 60-point eruption against the Miami Heat.
In L.A.’s last eight games, Doncic has averaged 40.9 points on 50.2% shooting, 8.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.4 steals, while also shooting 42.2% from three-point territory.
While Green has been left impressed by Doncic’s heroics, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year remains wary of the Lakers’ chances come playoff time.
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Green made his comments ahead of the Lakers’ 134-126 win over Miami on Thursday. At that point, L.A. was riding a seven-game winning streak. Green’s comments on Doncic were even more relevant after his big game against the Heat.
“Luka has been playing absolutely incredible,” Green said, noting that players like Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton have also stepped up of late. “… Because that is the magic of Luka Doncic. Luka at the top of his game makes everyone around him better.
“So, you ask yourself how dangerous can they be in the playoffs? And apart of me wants to say not very dangerous at all, but the other side of me knows better. You got Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the court at the same time. You have a chance always against anyone.”
James also had a big night against his former team on Thursday. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer dropped a 19-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in Miami. Together, James and Doncic made NBA history with their heroics for the Lakers.
Nevertheless, Green sent a blunt warning to L.A. ahead of the NBA playoffs.
“Teams that will put pressure on them that will make it tough on them in the playoffs is making them guard,” Green stated. “They’re not a great defensive team at all, kind of does some gimmicky stuff like some gimmicky zone that turns into a man.
“And in a playoff series, if you’re doing that like maybe one game, maybe two games, they figure out a couple of plays to dice that [expletive] up. And then you got to play regular defense.
“And then it takes us back to their original issues that the Lakers have had since the beginning of the season. I just don’t know if they’re good enough defensively to ultimately take it all the way, but they will always be dangerous in the playoffs. You got LeBron James, you got Luka Doncic.”
The Lakers improved to 45-25 after Thursday’s win and are currently third in the Western Conference. Green and the Warriors, on the other hand, are in action on Friday against the Detroit Pistons. They entered that matchup with a 33-36 record and 10th in the West.
