Draymond: Focus Is To Just Make Anthony Davis Take Tough Shots
Draymond Green is one of the NBA's most versatile defenders, but Anthony Davis represents a special challenge for him in the Golden State Warriors' first round series against the New Orleans Pelicans.
“It’s tough–most guys I give up length to who I guard, most of them aren’t as quick as me, though," said Green. "He’s both. Special athlete, man. So it’s always tough because he’s the not the type that’s really trying to back me down; he’s going to face up every time.
“And he uses his speed to his advantage. But even if I cut him off, he’s so long, he’ll still try to shoot over the top.
“But that’s what you have to make him do, though. You have to to make him take tough shots with you in between him and the basket. When he’s getting dunks and lay-ups, he’s unstoppable. But if you can make him tough shots with you in between you and the basket, you’ve got a much better chance of stopping him.
“That was my focus the entire night, just trying to make him tough shots. If he hits them, he hits them.”
Green hopes to eventually wear down Davis each game.
”You’re making him take those tough shots, eventually he’ll wear down. Once he started to wear down, those tough shots don’t go in as easily. And that’s really what you want to do as a defender.
“It’s a 48-minute marathon. It’s not a 12-minute race. For 48 minutes you’ve got to continue to grind and grind and grind.
“At some point he’ll wear down and those tough shots won’t fall as consistently.”