Warriors/Nuggets, Lakers Firing Vogel & Play-In Matchups

fan duel sports book makes it easy. What's up, everybody? Welcome to The Draymond Green Show and this is our one episode and it's a big one. We're extremely excited far guest this week. Make sure to follow my social media as well as the volumes because where we'll drop who the guests is. Trust me, you want to know right away. It's a great one. I think everybody's probably

been expecting this for a while. But you know, in doing this, you know you one thing we intentionally try to do is to aligne the guests up strategically so it makes sense. You know, you think about different parts of the season and like where some guys would be more exciting where you can catch more insight, and so that all goes into this as well. So I hope

everyone appreciate and excited about this guest. But again, you can only find out who this guest is gonna be either on my social media or the volume social media, so you may want to lock into both just so you don't miss this announcement. Because we're excited, but that's not the only important thing. The regular season is over. Insane, man, my tenth NBA season. I remember walking into the NBA like a year ago or yesterday and not having a spot like and wondering like am I gonna make the

team as a second round pick? And before training camp I signed my deal, so like, don't get it twisted, but and just getting drafted, I mean it was I was drafted in June two thousand and twelve, Like we're a month away from June two thousand twenty two. The fact that I finished ten years in the NBA and coming in against the death sentence of being a Twitter is absolutely insane to me, and I don't take that

for granted. I am extremely excited about playing in the playoffs again after you know, Jordan Poole said to me last night, he said, man, big bro, it's been two years. How I said, I've been starving, man, Like, it's nothing like playoff basketball. By the way, it is nine am in New Orleans. We we had a good dinner last night and like a vibe me, you know so, and I'm excited. So I hope you understand, like I hope that gives you a clear picture of how I'm feeling

about these playoffs. And so going into these playoffs, Golden State Warriors were matched up against against the Denver Nuggets, the three six seed, which we're gonna talk about something else that has to do with the three seeds a little later in the show. But we have the Denver Nuggets, which I'm extremely excited about number one, I think, and going into play Denver, I think it's a it's a

it's a pretty good matchup for us. Obviously, they have Joker, one of the the leading candidates for the m v P Award, who I think will win the m v P. Not that that's my m VP choice, but I do think he will win the MVP. And also just because that's not my choice does not mean he's not deserving he's he's definitely the servan. We see what the guy does first two thousand, uh two thousand point one thousand rebound,

five hundred assist season in NBA history. I mean, the things that Joker is able to do on the basketball courter absolutely the same. But you got the you got the Warriors versus Nuggets, and I'm really excited about this one. We also played, you know, hopefully only two games in Denver, and my brother Benny Fowler can attend the games, which that also means a lot, I think as for our for our listeners, that's not quite as old as me.

I think as you get older, you know, you start to appreciate your friends being around, how often that you have the opportunity to see your friends On me, I'm

extremely excited that Benny could come to the game. But also, um, I think when you when you look at the things that that plays a role in a in a playoff series number one and being in the Western Conference, there are some teams that you gotta travel far, whether it's a Texas team which is a for our flight Memphis which is a four hours, like I can, I do have a strong appreciation for only being an hour away hour and a half away from home, that that gives

you a time to adjust. I think. Uh. I think one of the things and going into this matchup that people don't don't quite realize that plays the factors playing in Denver with the altitude. I mean, you get out there in Denver and you get the breathing and it's not quite any air there. That makes a difference. And I think that's also that's also played a role over the years of why Denver has had such an home

court advantage. I think that's a very big deal. So that's something that we got to prepare for that I know our training staff or have us prepare for. But I mean, obviously we know their offense begins and ends with Joker. Um. You know, he's he makes a bunch of plays, whether it's for himself, whether it's for the guys, and so obviously, um, I think and going into it and going into and NBA playoff game plan, you have to decide one of a couple of things. You have

to decide what are you willing to lose against? Now follow me here. You have to pick and choose what you're willing to allow to beat you. And and most most more times than not, you're saying, I'm going to give up this, and I'm willing to give up this because I think if we can stop X, that's going to allow us to win the games and ultimately wins

a series. And so I think one common thing with with Joker is people have to decide, like whether you're gonna make him a pass or whether you're gonna make him a score. What what are you trying to take away? Um? And I think that's a very interesting thing. You see that all around the league. UM. As you get into the playoffs, I always tell guys your number one strength they take away, and as you get deeper into the playoffs, your number two strength is taken away. And that is

one of the beautiful things about the playoffs. You have situations where where a team teams are able to study guys for seven games as opposed to two nights. Ago I was studying two nights ago I was studying for the Santonio Spurs, and then a night ago I was studying for the New Orleans Pelicans. That's not the case

in the playoffs. You have seven games and to lock in on the scouting report, like like we we don't get that we don't have the opportunity to do simply due to the schedule, and so I think that always made the playoffs more interesting. You see teams make less mistakes. You have to be more precise. And that's one thing I've been I've been preaching to our guys. You know, we have we don't have a ton of playoffs experience

on our team. We have some guys who's won championships, myself, uh Cavan Looney, Steph Curry, and Clay Thompson, guys who's won championships, but then you also have a bunch of guys that hasn't played a bunch of playoffs basketball, if any playoff basketball at all. And so and helping guys under then that you have to be ready to play mistake free basketball. The team that makes the least amount of mistakes that is the team that's going to win the game. And that's what it boils down to in

the playoffs. And so I think that's still something that our guys have to feel and and and figure out as we go. But then that's also on us to make sure guys understand and help guys along the way, because that's a very important lesson and doing in in the playoffs and and coming out with a win. And so I think that's for as a leader of this team, that's important and I'm looking forward to that because you know,

guys just haven't had the opportunity. It's a fresh thing, and how do you help bring those guys alone because it takes some adjusting. It's not the same old NBA. It's not the same basketball. It won't be called the same. It's way more physical, um and and adjusting to all those things. You gotta feel it first. So I'm actually excited for our guys to feel that type of energy. I think we've had some games down the stretch where

guys have the opportunity to feel it. But the reality is the playoffs is the playoffs, and there is no simulating that. You just gotta feel it in and as you go forward, you make the necessary adjustment. I don't doubt that our guys will make that adjustment at all. So I'm looking forward to that. UM. Last night, we or yesterday really, we figured out who the playing tournaments, who in the playing tournament, who those matchups will be.

In the East, we have the number seven Brooklyn Nets, which none of us thought would be there, um, which probably wouldn't have been there without Kyrie being out, without Katie missing a bunch of games. Um, But that's what it is. The Lakers was in the playing as well last year. We were in the playing last year. The Grizzy was in the playing last year. And so I also want to talk about the playing tournament in the

NBA as a whole. But the first game is the number seven Nets versus Number eight Calves, and I have to say I absolutely love what the Calves has been able to do. I think they had a little slippers there at the end of the season, but as a young team you kind of expect that because everybody ramped

their stuff up and they're still adjusting to that. I think if anybody would have told the Calves you be in the A C with two chances to get in UH in the playing tournament at the beginning of the season, they would have signed right on the ditting line right away.

And so I think it's great what J. B. Bigger Staff has done with that young squad, what Darius Garden has Garland has done leading um that team, what Kevin Love has done as an o G for that young team, as a as a champion, and and showing those guys what it takes and being that big brother along the way, because that always matters. So I think what those guys has done has been incredible. But I have to say, you got a one game against Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

I'm gonna take Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant for that one game just about every single time against most teams and against the Calves, I'm gonna take those two guys. They got the experience, they know where they feel like. You know, Kyrie, I tweeted the other and Kyrie is like a he's a he's a big man in the guard body with a crazy handle in the torch. And I said, don't let that go over your head. And what I was saying is more so we all know Kyrie is a point guard. We know Kyrie can handle

the ball like crazy, we know you can shoot. But one one part of his game that I think it doesn't get enough respect is how Kyrie and his mind he thinks differently of of of what you see in Kyrie the person, and that is Kyrie think he's a big man. Kyrie gonna take a guard to the rim. He's gonna get a guard in the middle of the pain,

throw jump hooks, he post guard. His post game is absolutely insane, and so my tweet was more so, um, just a nod to something that I don't think he gets credit for, which is absolutely crazy, because I think that's a big part of Kyrie's game. Now, He's so skilled in other areas to where you can miss that you don't quite know what you're watching. But I think it's absolutely insane. So I'm definitely picking Kyrie. Who's gonna

feel like I have to eat the calves. I left the calves like you got that whole mental thing that go in it that you'all don't realize people think about. You got Kyrie like I can't lose to them. I left here and he was probably gonna go for forty, So enjoy. That is how this thing works, That's how guys think about things. You got the number nine Atlanta Hawks versus the number ten Charlotte Hornets, two good young point guards and Trey Young and LaMelo ball Uh two young,

up and coming teams in the Eastern Conference. Obviously, the Hawks had some slippage, and you know they were in the Eastern Conference Finals last year. They're not seen the playoffs, but anybody can get hot at this time. But I'm taking the Hawks. I'm taking the Hawks in that game. I think, uh, the Atlanta Hawks will have the best player on the floor in Trayon, and when you have the best player on the floor, you always have a chance to win the game. And I think Atlanta's experience, um,

I think that gets them over the hump. And I think Trades just gonna come out and betray and when again, you gotta win one game, you need Trade to come out and be tray So I think the Atlanta Hawks will take that game. And then you'll have a matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cars and again Trade what we'll see when we get there. But you got the best player on the floor, you give yourself a

great chance of winning that game. So that's the Eastern Conference and moving into the Western Conference, we got the number seven timber Wars versus Number eight Clippers. You do not want to play against Tyler in one game. Tyler game plans are crazy. I think ty louis one of the better coaches, the one of the best coaches in the NBA, and he does not get the credit for that.

I've played against Tyler and NBA Finals. That's gonna be a tough game I played, and I mean that's gonna be a very, very very tough game for the timber was Was Was. You also got the Clippers getting healthy at the right time. They just brought normal pile back, They just got Paul George back, and that team has been playing pretty good all year without i mean, missing significant pieces all year, and I think a large part of that isn't due to Tyler's coaching ability. I think ty

lewis an absolutely incredible coach. Paul George. We all know who Paul Georgia's Reggie Jackson lives for the big moment. Say what you wanted about Reggie, feel how you want about his game. That guy shows up in a big moment. Marcus Morris shows up in a big moment. So I have I have the Clippers going into Minnesota and upsetting, if you will, the number seven Minnesota timber Was. I

just think it's gonna happen. We'll see. I mean, you tell me what you think, but I personally don't think the timber Wood is just going to beat the Clippers now and saying that you have the number nine Pelicans versus the number ten Spurs and the last and the second matchup of the Western Conference Playing Tournament, and and that match up, I have the Pelicans winning. I think C James McCullum playoffs experience is going to help. You.

Got Jonas Valutunas guys who's had some significant playoff experience. Brandon ingram Um, who who's just a young stud not much playoff experience, but a young if any playoff experience at all, but a young stud who I think is going to show up on this stage. And so I'm taking I'm taking the Pelicans in that game. And then in my opinion, you're gonna have the Pelicans versus the Timberwolves, and I think the Timberwolves will take that game and ultimately getting as the A C. So that's my thoughts

on the playing tournament. I'm excited it to see how those matchups turn up turned out. I think one thing you can watch in the Nets and Calves series is you want to watch Kyrie. Kyrie is the guy to watch in the match up with Darius Garland, Kyrie versus one of the young guys, the young guy want to win Kyrie kind of that big brother got to hold it down. So I think that's the matchup to watch in that game, and the Hawks and Horness. I mean,

who else you watching? Um? Probably Trey Young and LaMelo. That's the matchup to watch. And man, I I don't know if y'all watch that Knick series last year between the land Hawks and the Knicks, but you got Trey Young, and in those types of environments, Trey Young got that little man syndrome. He got that like he's he going after guys. And so I enjoy watching Trey in these situations, and I think Trey comes out on top. So I

think that's the matchup to watch there. Um, at some point throughout the game, you're going to see Patrick Beverly on Paul George, and I think that's a that's an important matchup to watch. You got Patrick Beverly, piste off at the Clippers trade to him. Now you you're going into their house. Patrick Beverley, I mean he started yesterday.

I don't know if y'all if y'all saw Patrick Beverley telling now the official that he's terrible, uh last night he he he was already a character last last last night. So that's that's gonna be something to watch as the game go on. I'm not sure Patrick Beverley with guard Paul George the entire game, but I think that's a matchup to watch. And then you got Carl Town's verse Zoo Box. Now think about Carl Towns and Zoo Baches.

Carl Towns is a star player. Zoo Batches not the star player, gonna get plenty opportunities to score the basketball. What you want to watch in that matchup is not if Carl Towns ends up with twenty five points. You want to watch if Carl Towns dominates his matchup or not, because that's what Carl town should do. That's what Carl Town's probably we will do. We'll see, but that I think that's an important one to watch as well. It's can Zoo Box have a good game and contain times

do they have to go small? You see Surgeon Baka got traded during the year. This will probably been a good a good matchup for Sergey Bacca, who can guard, who can step out and guard the three. That's a tough matchup for Zuba. So I think that's something that you want to check out. Uh and thinking of and and then uh, how what type of X factor can Norman Pobaby. I think he's only been back for two games, but that's a big deal for the Clippers. So that's

some things to watch in that game. And then Repelicans versus Spurs. We got Dejon Murray versus c J McCullum. C J with the experience de Gen coming into his own Dejon been out as a late you know, so seeing if he can get that group back. I know he struggled last night a little bit against Dallas, so seeing if he can find that rhythm, Um, that's that's a big deal. And so you got c J Dejon going into c j's new home. Uh, CJ is looking to make that market and really win this fan base over.

So that's the matchup you gotta see. I think the first round matchup that I am most excited about when I looked throughout the playoffs. It's one that's not even official yet, but it's one that I think it's going to happen, and that is the Los Angeles Clippers versus the Memphis Grizzlies. That is a very, very very exciting first round matchup. And again I think the Clippers will win their first their first playing game and get in. And that's the matchup that I'm most excited about. Now.

If it don't come to fruition, you check out my Twitter and I will let y'all know what matchup almost excited about if that one doesn't happen. But that's the one I'm most excited about because it's a good matchup. Again, you got tylu the mastermind coming in and putting his game plans together. You got a young u um, a young Memphis team. You got a real scrappy, tough Clippers team. How does memphips suggested that this is a new situation for them, And so that's one that I'm really excited

about if it come of fruition. If it don't, if the Clippers lose this first game, check my Twitter and I'll let you guys know who I am most excited about to watch in the first round, because I don't give it to you here, I'm giving you who the matchup I am excited to see if it happens. So, I mean, that's that's kind of my thoughts on the way the playoffs shook out. One last thought, uh, the Dallas Mavericks UH decided to compete or play their guys UH in hopes that we were losing they will get

the number three seed. Luca Dantris goes down with an injury. That's always the risk that you take. I hope and I pray that lucas ready for the playoffs. You never want to see a guy go down. We worked so hard for this moment, Like you worked so hard just to get to this moment. To see a guy go down the night it ends for the New beginning, it's brutal. So I hope he's okay. But that's something to watch. And then you ask yourself the question, like was worth it? Um?

They needed us to lose to a Pelicans team that wasn't playing anyone. So then you go checking you like, whate is the likelihood of that happening? So you start to run all those things back in your head and the reality is no one and playing basketball, you just can't beat yourself up like that because you're gonna walk outside and turn your ank on the rock. And so like, no one thinks like that, but stuff, And we know what Luca means to the league, but more importantly to

his team, and so that's interesting. We'll see how that develops as the week going. But that's something to keep your eye on because obviously, as we know, that's a very big deal. Does he miss game one? Does he miss the first two games? He find uh? Is he a little hobble? What happens there? I think that's very interesting. And again you have to ask yourself, wasn't worth it? Uh?

Could you? You didn't control your own destiny. So I think also when you look at, uh, the season that the Los Angeles Lakers had, and when you know a lot of people, by the way, a lot of people, I mean, there were people that said the Los Angeles Lakors was gonna win a championship. If this is what you do, you say you're great and you're expert analysts, and you paid the Los Angeles Lakers who winning championship,

you kind of gotta be fired. And if somebody got to start holding people accountable because you like, you're so far off from being right, and you gotta think about it. There's ten teams that's currently still alive in each conference, twenty teams total. There's thirty teams in the NBA. You picked that they'd be the number one team, they're not even twenty one or twenty. You're like, you're so far

off in any other job. If you're that far off, could you imagine being an analyst for a venture firm or an analyst like on and on Wall Street or something, and you're that far off, Like you lose your job, Like somebody got a start start holding people accountable for these hot takes uh that that they expert lee if you will analyze, I think that's utterly ridiculous. And those people that did that you have to answer um, because

you just can't be that far off. That's ridiculous. Nonetheless, as a basketball fan or as a basketball player, if you're looking at the situation with the Los Angeles Lakers, you end up with so many questions, like I think the way that it's turned out now, it's like you see all these stories coming out about what's the rest brook, You see like all these stories coming out about Frank vocal. Frank vocal in the press conference yesterday, I have not

heard ship excuse my language. Um, I haven't been told ship or something of that nature that he said. And I mean as a player or coach, you see that it's it's a bit frightening because you do, you then put yourself in those shoes and you're like, would I'd

be treated like that? And it's not just the Los Angeles Lakers, Like, I think that happens all over the course of sports, uh especially I mean it happens in the NBA obviously, but it happens all through sports, and you have to begin, like you have to stop and think, like,

would I'd be treated like that? Is something to go don't go wrong right for me in a situation like that, And that's a tough thing to get over because ultimately you're coaching to get fired, you're planning to get traded, you're planning to get way that or like at some point throughout your career, these are things that happened in this sport, and so for as long as you can

protect against that, you try to. And that's one of those things that you you just you look at and as a player or a coach, you cringe, like because your biggest fear and worry is to be to be that guy in that situation that it's like catching all of that blame and catching all of that heat. So I think that's something like you really have to question or even think about from our perspective, because ultimately you're looking for security, you're looking for like acceptance to be

who you are and and and do the job. And so that's an interesting one one that makes me cringe for myself because I just you just hoping, pray that you're never in that situation. Yet the inevitable is most of us end up in that situation at some point or another. Russell Westbrook because in the MVP, he's ending up in the situation. Russell Westbrook in the m VP, and he's end up in this situation, most of us end up in it. So I think that's that's a tough one and it's one that we all try to

protect against with Ultimately, leg she usually inevitable. We'll see how that plays out. But that's my thoughts on the playing tournament. That's my thoughts on the matchups of the NBA playoffs. I hope you all enjoyed the regular season. I think it's been a great one. Um A lot of changes happened over the season, and now it's time it's time for Draymond and start shooting from three because that's what I do. So playoff Draymond we're here. That's it.

That's a rap. Talk to y'all soon again. Make sure you check out on social media who this guess is this week, because it's going to be a great one. Until then, that's a wrap. Draymond Green show them out piece