Russell Westbrook of the Los Angeles Clippers and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors were part of a very viral moment earlier in the week.
During a game, Green was tasked with guarding Westbrook.
As Westbrook stood at the three-point line, Green made it very clear that he wasn’t worried about any attempted three-pointer and kept his distance.
The footage of this possession quickly buzzed around the internet with people remarking how weak Westbrook’s three-point prowess is.
Draymond explaining why he guarded Russ like this
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) March 3, 2023
When asked about the play on Friday night, Green spoke about what he was trying to do by not guarding Westbrook.
He stated that he was attempting to get into his opponent’s head and make him question his own abilities on the court.
“You’re taught in basketball: you’re open, take the shot. But if you’re open every play, you kinda start questioning yourself,” Green said.
If Green was really trying to make Westbrook doubt himself from the three-point line, it worked.
He was just 0-of-5 from downtown during that game.
This is the way that Green works: he is more than just a physical player.
People often talk about what he can and can’t do on the court, but his ability to get under the skin of opponents is second-to-none.
He is known for his trash-talking and his desire to upset and mentally toy with his competitors.
This moment against Westbrook is a prime example of that and it should be seen as a fairly smart strategic move.
It certainly paid off, as the Warriors walked away with a 115-91 victory over the Clippers.
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