OAKLAND, Calif. — Draymond Green worked out with the Warriors on Monday at their morning pre-game shootaround, and the suspended power forward apparently has worked out where he will watch Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
According to an ESPN report, Green, who is not allowed to be inside Oracle Arena for the potential title-clinching game, will watch the game from a suite next door at the Oakland Coliseum.
If the Warriors win the title, Green will be allowed to enter the arena and participate in the victory celebration, but could face additional NBA penalties if he is inside the building while the game is in progress.
Green did not speak to the media at the shootaround, and according to guard Shaun Livingston, did not speak to the team, either, as he has been wont to do following past transgressions, such as his halftime locker room blow-up in Oklahoma City earlier this year.
“No, he hasn’t really spoken with the team,” Livingston said. “It’s tough. He’s in a different position now. Usually, he’s able to be vocal and then go out and set the example. Now, with him not playing, he’s speaking from a different position.
“(Coach) Steve (Kerr) has been great feeding us what we need, and I don’t think we should need any extra motivation tonight,” he said.
Livingston said the Warriors are prepared to play Game 5 without Green and no one necessarily needs to take on the vocal leadership of the club Green provides.
“No, I think it’s really just a cohesion thing throughout the whole team,” he said. “I think we rely on our chemistry, we rely on each other, we play for each other. One guy is not is going to make up all the things Draymond brings to the team. It’s all the little things he does that wins championships, and we need to be able to do that as a team.”
Livingston was taken aback when told Green’s mother, Mary Babers-Green, tweeted that she’s “riding” with him in Monday’s Game 5.
“Thanks to Draymond’s mom for the shout-out,” he said. “I’m riding for the team. I think she probably knows where my heart is. I play with heart, too. I may not be as loud or as vocal, but I think she understands my intentions are to win by any means necessary.”
The Warriors will have to declare another player inactive for Game 5 since Green remains a part of the active roster while suspended. That decision hadn’t been made by the morning shootaround, and won’t be required to be announced until an hour before game time.
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