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Monday 12 June 2017
Warriors’ Green will be on the court for this Finals Game 5

JANIE McCAULEY sudden you get slapped in The Cavs showed what
AP Sports Writer the face. It’s like, ‘Whoa.’ they’re capable of doing
OAKLAND, California (AP) You remember what can when everything clicks on
— A year ago for Game be, what can happen.” both ends, scoring a re-
5 of the NBA Finals, Gold- Golden State would rather cord 86 points in the first
en State Warriors general forget that monumental half of Friday’s 137-116 win
manager Bob Myers sat collapse last year, when to extend the series and
alongside suspended for- Green’s absence for postpone any Warriors
ward Draymond Green Game 5 because of fla- plans for a victory parade.
next-door to Oracle Arena grant foul point accumu- But that was in Cleveland.
in a suite at the Oakland lation helped swing the “We have to be 20 times
Athletics game. Myers told series. He took a swipe at better in this building,” said
Green: Let’s not do this James’ groin in Game 4 James, who has won at
again. On Monday night, after the Cavaliers super- least one road game in 29
the Warriors will try to close star stepped over him. straight postseason series.
out their second champi- Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) argues Myers chose to stay with Golden State knows it too
onship in three years with with referee Monty McCutchen (13) during the first half against Green as he sat out that must make adjustments,
the fiery Green on the court the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of basketball’s NBA Finals in game last June. including getting a hand
to start Game 5 this time. Cleveland, Wednesday, June 7, 2017. “When we were there last in the face of the Cavs’
They are up 3-1 in the best- Associated Press year I think I looked at him sharpshooters after sur-
of-seven series — again. momentum after winning row in the Finals and 15 in and said: ‘Let’s just never rendering a Finals record
LeBron James and Cleve- Game 4 and they will try to a row overall in the play- do this again. Let’s make 24 3-pointers Friday, seven
land, who appeared down stave off elimination once offs, you just think it’s going sure you’re playing and I of those by Irving during
and out only days ago in an more. to happen,” Green said get to watch. This doesn’t his 40-point masterpiece.
0-3 hole, now have some “We won three games in a Sunday. “And then all of a feel right, let’s avoid this, Warriors coach Steve Kerr
move forward,’” Myers re- said it all starts with better
called. “Whatever he’s do- on-ball defense.
ing, he should keep doing Durant said he can ac-
it. And look, he hasn’t lost cept when Cleveland hits
any of the intensity and he a contested 3, but not
hasn’t lost his edge. That’s those when nobody closes
the hardest challenge, out so shooters have am-
when you have that type ple time and long, open
of emotions, to channel it. looks.
And he’s really been able “You can make a sand-
to do that. Like I said, I think wich before somebody
because of experience.” even gets out there,” Du-
Green said his suspension rant said of how it seemed
conversation with Myers in Game 4.
is a moment “I remember Green has stayed just on
like it was yesterday, I’ll the right side of the line this
never forget it.” postseason, not in danger
If the Warriors can close of an automatic suspen-
out the tough-to-eliminate sion for technicals or fla-
Cavs on Monday, they grant accumulation.
would become the first “Maybe more measured,”
Bay Area team to capture Myers said, comparing
a championship at home Green from last year to
since the A’s finished the now. “He’s confining his
Los Angeles Dodgers in intensity in a more narrow
Game 5 of the 1974 World lane, meaning sometimes
Series. he would spill over in ar-
James, Kyrie Irving and eas. But he’s learned how
Kevin Love know they to focus that intensity. And
aren’t out of this yet — af- also perspective and ex-
ter all, they came back perience. There’s no sub-
from a daunting deficit stitute for experiencing
a year ago on the way winning a championship
to the city’s first major and losing one for what
team sports title in 52 else you need to know as
years. Sure, it will be a tall a player.”
task in Oakland with a mo- James, too, understands.
tivated Kevin Durant trying He’s been on both sides
to capture his first career the previous two years.
title and playing like a pos- He was asked whether this
sible Finals MVP. might be the game the
“We know that champions Warriors feel they must get.
don’t die. They don’t just “No, I feel this is the game
lay down and die,” Durant we’ve got to get,” he said,
said. “or it’s over.”q