Proven NBA champion Draymond Green has been named a favorite to win the 2024 NBA Finals.
Speaking on the Point Game Podcast, the Warriors forward and four-time champion said the Dallas Mavericks have all the makings of a championship-winning team.
And if there's anyone qualified to judge that, it's definitely Green.
“To be honest with you, my favorite team right now is Dallas,” Green told point gamers John Wall and CJ Toledano before the start of the Western Conference finals, “and the reason I love Dallas is because they have all the pieces that it takes to win a championship.
“They have a wing defender, a big man, a couple of big men who can rotate. Dwight Powell isn't even playing. Dwight Powell is a very useful big man in the NBA.” [He] He never stands on the court. So, when you look at their depth, Josh Green comes off the bench and can make a difference in the game. ”
In making his case, Green also mentioned Tim Hardaway Jr.'s threat off the bench despite his down year, especially the guard's shooting ability that can quickly change the fate of any game. .
The Golden State forward also said part of the secret to the Mavericks' success is that they and star Luka Doncic, who scored 66 points, two of Dallas' 108 points in Game 1 of the conference finals on Wednesday night. I think this is due to the performance of both Kyrie Irving and Kyrie Irving.
But Green said nothing will be more important in determining Dallas' outcome than Doncic's mindset.
“When you look at Luka and Kyrie and what they bring to the game, they're two of the most guarded players in our league,” Green said. “You know, on any given night, they can both hit 40. But I think they have the pieces to do it right now. It depends on Luka's mindset. I think.
“Every time I see Luka this year, I say, ‘Damn. [is] Is Luka ready to win the championship? He plays defense and competes. But are you going to do it when it's over? [doesn’t] Are you still going to compete the same when things are going well, when things aren't going well, when your team is on the rise?
“You know, I think that's the next step for Luca. And I know that's more than possible because he can do it in spurts. So how long do we have left to put it together?”
Green, who has been the Warriors' on-court leader for more than a decade, concluded his argument by praising Irving's resurgence as a leader after a significant downturn that put him at a disadvantage during his career.
“And I think Kyrie's leadership is great,” Green added. “I don't think anybody wants to look up to him less with everything he's been through. Kyrie's leadership is great.”
“When you see the growth of a young person like Kylie, who thought she was a leader, who failed miserably as a leader, and then goes on to say, 'I failed, and I know why.'
“Watching him make those adjustments, it's just a matter of respect.”
With the Mavericks just three wins away from their first Finals appearance of the Doncic era, Green's projections aren't looking too bad.
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