After winning the championship last season, the Golden State Warriors are not exactly returning with the same gusto so far in 2022-23.
The Warriors (22-22) are currently the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. But they are just one game ahead of the Trail Blazers, who possess the 11th-best record in the West and wouldn’t even make the play-in tournament if the season ended today.
Golden State has a negative point differential (-17) thus far and their defense has taken a significant step back. It is not entirely clear what is causing their championship hangover, but if you ask Warriors forward Draymond Green, he has a pretty good idea.
"I think a lot of our shortcomings this year are my fault"
—@Money23Green tells @JCrossover what has been the problem in Golden State this season pic.twitter.com/GMnafG2QHT
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) January 19, 2023
Green hosted longtime NBA guard Jamal Crawford on the latest episode of his podcast. Here is what Green had to say (via The Draymond Green Show):
“Our struggles this year hasn’t been because we not flicking a switch. … I think a lot of our shortcomings this year is my fault. Why is it my fault? Because I have not been the leader that I am and that I need to be for this team. And the reason I have not been that leader is also my fault. Right?”
The four-time NBA champion and former Defensive Player of the Year said his preseason altercation with Jordan Poole has caused some turmoil within the organization.
Although he was not suspended, the incident blew up into something much bigger than he had ever expected it would.
Green admitted that after stepping over the line with his teammate, he is now being more careful. However, Green says it also means he does not feel like he can be “himself” with his teammates.
More from The Draymond Green Show:
“I think we all know what happened with your young Wolverine brother, JP. And so for me, I’ve kind of had to walk a fine line of not really being Draymond. And when I’m not being myself, that’s not the best thing for this team. And so where we’ve struggled is accountability and accountability on the defensive end and accountability on the offensive end. You know the accountability it takes to have a winning team. That’s my role on this team and I’ve fell short in that area.”
This is a good reminder that while Green’s problem with Poole is no longer in the news cycle, it may still have a lingering and long-lasting impact on the players.
Green, who recently admitted that he recorded a podcast after the altercation but decided never to publish it, clearly feels bad about what happened during the altercation.
But for the sake of the franchise, hopefully, they can move on so Green can feel more comfortable being himself as a leader both on and off the court.
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