Warriors Vs Rockets

While celebrating Stephen Curry’s spectacular performance in the Golden State Warriors' Game 3 victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, Draymond Green also took the opportunity to openly acknowledge his own shortcomings. Even as Green offered praise for Curry’s electrifying effort, he wove in an honest critique of himself, recognizing that the emotional leadership he usually provides was lacking. According to Green, it was Curry who stepped into the emotional leadership role that is typically his domain.

“Oftentimes I try to bring that energy, and I didn't have it,” Green admitted candidly. “He found it, and then I followed him, and we all followed him.” In this moment of reflection, Green’s self-awareness was both striking and revealing. He did not shy away from acknowledging that he wasn’t his usual vibrant, intense self during the initial three games of this opening-round Western Conference playoff series. While evaluating Draymond Green’s impact solely through the lens of box score statistics is almost always misleading, even those numbers appeared relatively pedestrian by his standards. Yet what stood out more vividly than any statistical measure was the inconsistency of his energy — a signature attribute that has defined so much of his playoff legacy. His trademark fire, which often propels his teammates, flickered in and out, replaced at times by stretches of surprising passivity.

Throughout the early stages of the series, Green, particularly when the Warriors had the ball, often seemed more like a bystander than the dynamic, relentless playmaker fans and teammates are accustomed to seeing. Instead of setting the tone with his aggressive drives, pinpoint passes, and emphatic physicality, he often faded into the background, blending into the scenery instead of standing out with his usual blowtorch-level intensity. It inevitably raised the question: At age 35, could Draymond Green still summon the raw vitality that once made him one of the league’s most feared and influential postseason forces?

Golden State coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the challenges facing his veteran forward. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Kerr noted that the Rockets were making a concerted effort to neutralize Green’s playmaking abilities. “They're trying to take away Draymond's playmaking and take him out of our offensive scheme as best they can,” Kerr said. “So, this is not an easy series for Dray.” Kerr’s comment revealed a deep understanding of how the Rockets’ defensive strategy was specifically tailored to disrupt one of the Warriors' foundational players.

Over the years, Draymond Green has built a reputation for being a playoff warrior in every sense of the word. As the stakes rise in the postseason, so too does Green’s adrenaline. His voice grows louder, his movements sharper, and his passion becomes infectious, energizing the entire roster both on and off the court. That heightened version of Green is usually visible to everyone — from teammates to opponents to spectators — but in this series, that presence had been fleeting.

Coach Kerr further elaborated on the unique difficulties of this series, particularly crediting Houston’s Fred VanVleet for his scrappy, relentless defense. VanVleet’s dogged efforts, combined with the Rockets’ collective defensive schemes, have effectively pushed Green away from his comfort zones, minimizing his typical offensive impact. However, Kerr emphasized that Green's value to the team transcends offense. “The big challenge for Dray is to embrace that, accept the fact that we're going to generate offense elsewhere, and he can still control the game defensively, regardless of what happens at the offensive end,” Kerr stated. Kerr believed that Green’s defensive mastery remained a weapon the Warriors could rely upon, even if his usual offensive role had been curtailed.

Indeed, Game 3 eventually witnessed a glimpse of the Draymond Green that Warriors fans know and love. After a tepid first half where Green’s stat line read three points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal, three turnovers, and a minus-3 plus/minus rating in 17 minutes, he erupted with renewed vigor after halftime. Over the final two quarters, Green contributed four points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks, one steal, two turnovers, and posted an impressive plus-15 in 17 minutes. Yet the numbers only told part of the story. More significant was the unmistakable presence of his spirit, which infused the Warriors with an added edge when they needed it most.

Green’s intensity became evident right at the start of the fourth quarter when he scored the first basket, injecting life into a team that needed a jolt. That was soon followed by a rapid series of three fouls within an 81-second span — a chaotic burst of activity that sent Green to the bench to cool off after picking up his fourth foul. The brief respite seemed to work, as Green returned to the court in the closing minutes with a renewed sense of mission, playing as though each possession could determine the series.

During those critical minutes, Green delivered several pivotal plays that underscored his enduring value. He blocked a shot by Houston’s Dillon Brooks, setting the tone defensively. He followed that up with a precision assist to rookie guard Brandin Podziemski, reinforcing his playmaking instincts. Later, he delivered a powerful block on Houston’s big man Alperen Şengün, and then capped it off with a theft, picking off a Fred VanVleet pass to trigger a Warriors fast break. Each action was a tangible demonstration of Green’s defensive genius and his ability to impact games even when the offense wasn’t flowing through him.

Coach Kerr, evaluating Green’s performance afterward, particularly lauded his impact in the fourth quarter. “His fourth quarter defense was incredible,” Kerr said. “But he has to maintain that poise and that edge even through the physicality and the offensive stuff that they're taking away from him.” Kerr’s remarks pointed to the delicate balance Green must maintain — playing with the ferocious intensity that makes him great, without allowing that fire to spill over into reckless mistakes.

Adding an extra layer of drama to Green’s evening was a contentious postgame exchange with Houston’s Jalen Green. The verbal spat served as yet another sign that Draymond’s competitive fire was fully reignited. Maybe it was Curry’s inspirational display that lit the flame within Green. “I thought it was beautiful,” Green said, referring to Curry’s decision to step into the emotional leadership role. “He realized that it wasn't there (for me), and he took it upon himself to bring that type of force to the game, and we all fell in line and followed.”

Perhaps it was also the tantalizing prospect of seizing control of the series that stirred Green’s competitive instincts. A win in Game 3 gave Golden State a crucial 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven battle, positioning them to potentially close out the feisty, youthful Rockets and punch their ticket to the conference semifinals. For Green, a player who feeds off high-stakes moments, the scent of victory must have been almost irresistible.

Looking ahead to Game 4 on Monday night, the Warriors’ fortunes could very well hinge on whether the fierce, focused version of Draymond Green once again takes the court. If Green can replicate the level of intensity and impact he displayed in the second half of Game 3, Golden State might be able to put a stranglehold on the series and avoid the dangers of a protracted, exhausting battle. They could wrap things up without needing to stretch the series to a grueling sixth or seventh game.

However, if the Warriors do not get that version of Draymond — if the energy lapses, if the fire dims — the Rockets, buoyed by their youthful exuberance and homecourt energy, could find a way to even the series at two games apiece. Regaining homecourt advantage heading back to Houston for Game 5 would dramatically change the series’ trajectory, injecting fresh momentum into the Rockets' campaign.

Thus, the stakes are abundantly clear. Draymond Green’s ability to maintain his emotional and defensive edge could very well be the swing factor that determines whether the Warriors stay in control or open the door for the Rockets’ resurgence. His career has always been defined by moments like this — when the urgency of the situation demands that he summon every ounce of intensity, intelligence, and toughness that he possesses.

As Game 4 looms, the Warriors know they cannot simply rely on Curry’s brilliance alone, no matter how dazzling it can be. They need the full Draymond Green experience — the defensive anchoring, the vocal leadership, the emotional contagion that transforms a team’s demeanor. If they get it, the Rockets may find themselves overwhelmed, their playoff dreams fading under the weight of Golden State’s experience and hunger. If they don't, the Rockets could very well seize the momentum and throw the series wide open once again.

For Draymond Green, for the Warriors, and for the arc of this playoff run, everything hinges on whether that familiar fire burns as fiercely on Monday night as it did during the closing moments of Game 3.