Why Draymond 'lost a lot of respect' for Sabonis after Game 7

 

The NBA Playoffs are always an exciting time for basketball fans, and this year's first round series between the Golden State Warriors and the Indiana Pacers was no exception. After a hard-fought seven-game series, the Warriors emerged victorious, but not without some drama along the way. One of the most talked-about moments of the series came in Game 7, when Warriors' forward Draymond Green was involved in a heated exchange with Pacers' center Domantas Sabonis. After the game, Green spoke to reporters and said that he had "lost a lot of respect" for Sabonis.

So, what exactly happened between the two players, and why did Green feel so strongly about it? Let's take a closer look.

The incident in question occurred early in the fourth quarter of Game 7. With the Warriors leading by a comfortable margin, Sabonis attempted to box out Green as a shot went up. In the process, Sabonis appeared to grab Green's arm and pull him down, causing Green to lose his balance and fall to the ground.

Green immediately got up and confronted Sabonis, exchanging words with the Pacers' big man. The two players had to be separated by their teammates, and both received technical fouls as a result of the altercation.

After the game, Green was asked about the incident and didn't hold back in his criticism of Sabonis. "I lost a lot of respect for him tonight," Green said. "I don't know what his problem is. He's a dirty player. Simple as that."

Green's comments were surprising, to say the least. Sabonis is generally regarded as a clean player, and there didn't appear to be anything particularly dirty about his box-out attempt on Green.

So, why did Green feel so strongly about the incident? There are a few possible explanations.

First of all, it's worth noting that Green is a highly competitive player who wears his heart on his sleeve. He's not afraid to speak his mind, and he's never been one to shy away from confrontation on the court.

In addition, Green and Sabonis have a bit of history. The two players have faced off several times over the years, and there have been a few incidents between them in the past. It's possible that Green was simply holding onto some residual frustration from those previous encounters.

Finally, it's worth considering the context of the game itself. The Warriors were in the process of clinching a series victory, and emotions were running high on both sides. It's possible that Green was simply caught up in the heat of the moment and said something he later regretted.

Regardless of the reasons behind Green's comments, it's clear that the incident with Sabonis will be a topic of discussion for some time to come. For his part, Sabonis has yet to respond publicly to Green's criticism, but it's likely that he'll be asked about it in the coming days.

In any case, the incident serves as a reminder of just how intense NBA playoff basketball can be. Even the slightest perceived infraction can lead to heated confrontations between players, and emotions can run high throughout an entire series.

As for Green and Sabonis, it remains to be seen whether they'll be able to bury the hatchet and move on from their Game 7 altercation. But one thing is for sure: the next time these two teams meet on the court, all eyes will be on the matchup between these two fiery competitors.