Draymond's surprise MVP, and why the NBA Play-In Tourney is here to stay | The Draymond Green Show

What's up everybody? It's Draymond Green. Make sure you subscribe to the Volumes YouTube channel below so you don't miss any more of this great content going forward. And number 1 is the Warriors. We have won 2 straight while having 3 games left. 2 big ones, by the way. The win against Utah was huge because most importantly, it gave us the tiebreaker and where we would have been, if I'm not mistaken, I think our record would have been the same had we lost to them. Or one game ahead, but the tiebreaker, it would've come down to more than just the head-to-head matchup. I think the next thing after the head-to-head matchup is who has the best record in their division, if I'm not mistaken. And so number one was the tiebreaker. But I think even more importantly than that was we, you know, over the course of the last 3 games, the Phoenix game included, in which we lost, you, like, there was just a sense, like, we had 21 turnovers, so that was terrible. But yet we lost by I think 4 points in a game that we could have and should have won. You felt like ourselves again. It felt like we defended the right way. It felt like we had good intentions on moving the ball. We missed a ton of shots. And so that one, you just kind of felt and had a sense of like, okay. Yeah. We're kind of getting back to the Warriors that we were earlier in the year where we were the number one defense in the league. Like you can see that coming and it's coming at a great time. Like you, we always say you wanna roll into the playoffs. You don't wanna stumble into the playoffs. And so to get that win against Utah with what was at stake and also with the way we had been playing, we hadn't won any meaningful games. We hadn't won really any games at all. And so to kind of work ourselves outta the rut, that was a huge win. That's all I can say. But it's also a team that we can face in the playoffs. And you always say when you're facing the team that you can face in the playoffs, you wanna send a message. You want that team to think about the last time they played you and what happened. And so I think it was great from that standpoint as well. I think we also found some things that we can, more things that we can rely on with and go to while Steph is out. You know, Jordan Poole has been playing incredible. By the way, Jordan Poole for most improved player. Which we're gonna discuss 'cause that deserves its own segment on this top of the show. So we're gonna discuss that. But I think with just the way we came outta that and then rolling into yesterday, which was the win against the Sacramento Kings, that game would've been a lot tougher had we not built the momentum we built the night before that. You're coming off a loss, last night gets way tougher than it was. And you know, no NBA game is easy. You still gotta go out there and win the game. You're still playing against NBA players. And so, we're playing against the Sacramento Kings team, who's headed on vacation pretty soon here in the next week. But the thing about playing against teams in that position is they just come out and play free. You know, they come out there, they're firing shots. You know, guys are just loose and free because nothing matters. Like you can do whatever you want and there's really no repercussions. And so they were playing that way. I think we punched them early and we were able to— Draymond Green. Kind of hold onto that grip for the majority of the game. They went on one run there in the fourth quarter, but for the most part, we really controlled the entire pace of the game. And so to have those two games and kind of get those under our belt, get those two wins under our belt and kind of rebuild the confidence of this team, I think is great. Which heading into these last three games, we got the Lakers coming up at home on Thursday and then we head out for a back-to-back San Antonio and New Orleans to close out the season. I think the beautiful thing about all these, all three of these games is they all have playoff implications. Which means our guys, once again, who don't have a ton of experience, will get and have 3 opportunities to feel that intensity. Whereas, you know, still to be different in the playoffs, but you'll feel a playoff-like atmosphere. And I think it's great for guys to feel that heading into the real thing because, you know, you get slapped in the face by stepping out there. You know, we play rookies. Mm-hmm. Part of our rotation. And so you, you want guys to get that experience and kind of feel that atmosphere and feel how you need to take that level of competition up a notch, how you need to take that level of focus up a notch. Everything in the playoff is ramped up a notch and every round you go is ramped up even more. And so I think it's great for guys to be able to, to have the opportunity to feel that over the course of these next 3 games. We play the Lakers, the Spurs, and the Pelicans. All 3 of those teams are battling. Yeah. For the 9 and 10 spot. And so those are very important games. You know, both, all 3 of those teams are gonna come out swinging, giving all they got. I think if the Lakers, the Lakers could actually be eliminated if I'm not mistaken by Thursday because they play Phoenix tomorrow or by the time this drop, it'll be them playing Phoenix today. So we'll see. But no matter what, the Spurs and the Pelicans are fighting for playoff position. So those will be two tough games and we're still fighting for playoff position as well. And so I think it's a very interesting, very interesting week ahead. I think it's a great week ahead for us. The Spurs have kind of had our number this year, so that'll be a good game for us as well. And I'm really looking forward to it. For everybody who hated on the play-in tournament, It seems to be making for a great week, week and a half of basketball leading up to the playoffs again. And I know a lot of people hated it and didn't like the idea of the play-in tournament. And the NBA said, yep, we're gonna stick with it. And it keeps creating these interesting situations. So for those that don't like the play-in tournament, I think you should get used to it because from the looks of it, it's probably here to stay. I mean, last year you had LeBron James, Steph Curry, Ja Morant in the play-in tournament this year, and Jayson Tatum in the play-in tournament last year. And I'm sure I'm missing some very prominent names. This year you have possibly LeBron James, you have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving for sure. Mm-hmm. You have possibly LaMelo Ball for sure. Karl-Anthony Towns possibly, or possibly Donovan Mitchell, Paul George. Like you're actually ending up with stars in these play-in games. And last year, if I'm not mistaken, the two play-in games were the high, or two of the highest rated games of the season for certain. And so for those of you that don't like the play-in game, you may wanna get used to it because it's creating some interesting situations. And it is here to stay. And moving forward, let's talk about Jordan Poole for the Most Improved Player Award. How isn't he? Guy's had 20 points in what, 20-something straight games, joining Kevin Durant and Steph Curry as the only Warriors to do that in the last 30 years, if I'm not mistaken. He's playing meaningful basketball. It's not like he's doing this on, a team that's 28 and 50. You know, he's doing this on a team that's 50 and 29 or 50 and 28 or 50, whatever we are. He's playing incredible basketball. About a year ago, he was almost out of the NBA. He was sent to the G League because no one felt like he had it together. No one felt like he had figured it out or were figuring it out. And look at him now. Every night he's putting on a show. Had we been winning some games, he would've probably, he would have 100% been the player of the month in March in the Western Conference. Not, not rookie of the month, the player of the month in the Western Conference. But due to injuries and a bunch of different things, our rotation's all over the place. Me coming back into the lineup, Steph Curry going outta the lineup, blah, blah, blah. We had a tough month. That does not stop what he did. And how much he has improved. So I would love to know who the voters could possibly think deserves it over him. Because in looking at his entire body of work, he had one little stretch in the season where he, where Klay came back, he was moved to the bench. He kind of had to figure that role out, had a few bad games, but for the most part of the season, he's been doing exactly what he's doing now. Yeah. On a playoff team, one of the top playoff teams, I think Jordan Poole has to be at the top of that conversation for most improved player. I thought earlier in the year Miles Bridges was leading it. I thought earlier in the year Darius Garland was leading. But when you're, it's, the award is most improved. Myles Bridges, who's my lil bro, improved a bunch. Improved a bunch. He didn't have to make as big of improvement as Jordan Poole had to make. Darius Garland, who is my lil bro, who improved a bunch, be an All-Star in this league for a long time. He didn't have to improve as much as Jordan Poole had to improve. And so it's not that those two guys aren't in the race because I think those two guys are right up there at the top as well with Jordan. But I think when you say the words most improved, see, it goes back to this conversation of what is the criteria? There's no real criteria. It's kind of just what someone feels. When you say most improved, who improved the most? I have to say Jordan Poole improved the most and he deserves the award. So I'm interested in seeing where that goes as we head down the stretch. Yeah. MVP, my MVP is Devin Booker. I think Book has been consistent all year. I think with as good as their team has been, again, we go back to the conversation, there's no criteria. Some years it is the best player on the best team. Some years it's, you know, Russell Westbrook's team's in 6th place, but he won. Don't get me wrong, he deserved to win, but we just all wonder what's the criteria. And so, however, for me, for my criteria, Devin Booker is the MVP of the NBA. With as consistent as he's been, he's faced injuries, he's come back, hasn't missed a beat. Their team has continued to win. They're leading the NBA in first place by a long shot. Gotta go with Devin Booker as my MVP. Draymond Green. Defensive Player of the Year is tricky for me. The reason Defensive Player of the Year is tricky for me is because like I said before, through 33 games, I had the award won. When I look at the following, the 33 games to follow that, I can't tell you within those 33 games of who I'm like, oh, maybe that guy. Like that guy should win now. Like I didn't really see anyone separate themselves. So because of that, I struggle with who to pick. But if I wanna put some type of criteria in, then you say, all right, look at what the Boston Celtics has done and how, you know, their defense changed their season. And then you look up and everybody's saying Marcus Smart, which I think Marcus Smart is a hell of a defender. I think he's an incredible defender. Yeah. But before Robert Williams got hurt a week ago, everyone was saying Robert Williams was the key to the defense. And so that's where I kind of struggle there. I think Marcus Smart is a hell of a defender, don't get me wrong. But I'm just saying a week ago before the injury, the narrative was Robert Williams was the key to their defense and why everybody's able to switch and just funnel everything to him and he cleans all the mistakes. At the rim. And then once he got hurt, now all of a sudden everybody's like, oh, Marcus Smart's the Defensive Player of the Year. Hell of a defender, great defender. But how did the narrative change so fast is what I don't understand. That's my only question about Marcus Smart, but definitely should be in the conversation. Could be deserving. Mikal Bridges has to be in the conversation. Probably is the winner with the way he's guarded. I've seen him guard the hell outta some guys. What I like about Mikal Bridges is he's a good defender. He's not a good on-ball defender, he's a good defender. He's good on the ball, he's good off the ball, he can block shots weak side, he can play passing lanes, he's in the right spot, he's always in help. He's a good defender. See, there are some defenders that compromises your defense. In order to be good defenders. Mikal Bridges don't compromise your defense to be a good defender. So Mikal Bridges has to be in the conversation and is probably deserving to be the winner of it. Coach of the Year, and I struggle with this one. It has to be one of two guys. Ah, one of three guys. Ime Udoka. Because Ime, see, it wasn't like the Boston Celtics was handing him after last year as the Boston Celtics that we all know. They were not very good last year and they were in the play-in tournament and people was talking about trade Marcus Smart and trade Jaylen Brown and all of this stuff. They started off the season rough and they figured it out. I gotta give a lot of credit to Ime for that. So Ime's in the race. Doc Rivers is in the race with everything that team was going through with the Ben situation to stay right at the top of the Eastern Conference. That's a hell of a coaching job. They gotta keep everybody on the straight and narrow in order to accomplish that. So Doc Rivers has to be in the conversation. And then JB Bickerstaff has to be in the conversation. I mean, nobody expect, and I know they've been losing as of late, But if you would've told the Cleveland Cavaliers or anyone else that they would be in the play-in game this year and possibly with an opportunity to still beat a top 6 seed in the playoffs, everybody would've jumped at it. They were probably the 14th, number 13 or 14 in the Eastern Conference last year. So I gotta give a lot of credit to JB Bickerstaff and— Draymond Green. Of those 3, I would— No Monty? No Monty? My only thing with Monty is they played in the NBA Finals last year. Okay. Like, who won it last year? Tibbs, I think. Which I thought Monty should have won it last year. Me too. But like, I thought it was a no-brainer. They should have won it. Monty should have won it last year. But for me to say now Monty should win it just because he didn't win it last year, they played in the NBA Finals last year, lost in 6 games. And so I kind of expected them to come out this year like this. You're pissed off. You got the same team. You added some pieces, JaVale McGee, who I thought was a big add. Like you added some pieces, but you got your continuity. I expected that from them this year, what they've done. And so— Fair enough. Not taking anything away from Monty, with what he's done with that organization and turned everything around. It's insane. So I'm not taking anything away from Monty. But I'm just like, who's done like the job this year that no one saw coming? It's usually who I like to go with Coach of the Year, which is why Monty would've been in it last year for me. No one saw the Phoenix Suns going to the NBA Finals last year coming into the season. And so that's why Monty would've been there for me. And they were a top 2 seed battling for a 1 seed. So that's why this year, I have to go with Ime Udoka. I think Ime is the Coach of the Year. It's his first year coaching. To take Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown from what everybody thought should be a thing of the past to a thing of the future is a big time thing. That's two young guys that you got that you're trying to get the buy-in. In what case that both guys could think, no, I should be the number one guy. And you get them to buy in and that team to be playing how they're playing, to get Marcus Smart to looking like the point guard everyone thought Marcus Smart would be coming out. See now Marcus Smart, I don't know if people remember Marcus Smart coming outta Oklahoma State, but was the ultimate winner. Was going to USA camps, destroying everybody still as a college kid. I'm talking that Marcus Smart. Mm-hmm. Marcus Smart this year is playing the type of basketball that that Marcus Smart played. And that's no discredit to the basketball that Marcus Smart has played his whole career. Marcus Smart has had a very good career. But I think now Marcus Smart is playing the basketball that everyone thought Marcus Smart would play when he first came out. And it's so beautiful to see. And you know what it's showing up in? Remember what I said Marcus Smart was back then? Marcus Smart played basketball like the ultimate winner. Whoa, what's the Boston Celtics doing now? They're winning. I think Marcus Smart have a huge, huge, huge thing to do with that. And so Ime Udoka has to be the Coach of the Year. And my Rookie of the Year is Evan Mobley. He's playing on a winning team that's gonna be in the playoffs. The basketball that he's played all year, he's consistently gotten better. I also think he's the star of that draft. I think he is going to be insanely good. I actually thought this before this year, but Evan Mobley's my Rookie of the Year for sure. So that's who I got for this year's awards. We'll see how it all plays out. I'm interested in seeing how it plays out because I think, you know, Jackson and I decided, whether we were going to do the awards this week or not. And it's funny because we decided that we were gonna do 'em next week because we still think the races are still playing out. Like there's so many, there's still meaningful games left in this season down the stretch that could sway somewhat one way or the other. And so we said we were doing this next week, but then I started talking about Jordan Poole and I'm like, well, if I'm talking about Jordan Poole, then we might as well talk about all awards. So Jordan Poole, 100%. Get him outta here, son. Most improved player. But that's it, man. That's the top of the show. Hope y'all enjoyed it. That's my thoughts. That's my takes. Playoffs right around the corner. Warriors back to 50 wins, clinched the playoff spot. I never really appreciated the playoffs so much since my rookie year. But after not playing the playoffs for 2 years, I need it. So I'm excited. I'm excited. That's it. Actually catch y'all tomorrow with the Steph Curry interview. Make sure y'all lock into that one as well. Draymond Green Show. It's a wrap. Talk to y'all later. Peace. Peace.