The Golden State Warriors have now outscored opponents by a total of 83 points in the five games since Draymond Green returned from suspension following their victory against the Philadelphia 76ers, in which the Sixers were outscored by 18 points in Green’s 29 minutes on the court.
Green spent a significant portion of those minutes at small-ball center, a position in which he has always flourished and which has contributed to the Warriors’ ascent to dynasty status in the last ten years. Much has been made about Steph Curry turning the motor on, but Green’s capacity to efficiently and not only upsize has allowed a team that has always been undersized in comparison to other teams to reach its full potential.
However, having several wings of similar stature who together improve a small-ball lineup’s adaptability and mobility makes Green’s job as the center easier. Green, left on his own, opens up a wide range of covering choices, such as drop, soft/hard hedge, blitz/trap, or switching. The floor next to him has additional interchangeable components that enable swapping of all or nearly all of the components, hence enhancing the unit’s overall interchangeability.
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