OKLAHOMA CITY — The battle of flailing legs and kicking feet morphed into a war of words in the Western Conference Finals as Golden State’s Draymond Green and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook engaged in a “He Said, He Said” and then “He Said Again” scuffle Monday.
At the middle of all the not-so-polite conversation was Green’s Game 3 groin kick to Thunder center Steven Adams, a jolt that was unintentional if you are a Warrior or intentional if you are a Thunder person. If you are the NBA, it was intentional enough to warrant a $25,000 fine, but not result in a suspension for Green.
After the game Sunday, Westbrook claimed he felt the kick was intentional, recalling Green kneed Adams below the belt in Game 2. Rebuttal, Mr. Green.
“Russell said I did it on purpose, but he’s part of the superstar group that started all this acting in the NBA. I didn’t,” Green said at Chesapeake Energy Arena. “So I sold the call.”
Green was fouled by Adams in the second quarter of OKC’s 133-105 thrashing of the Warriors and his foot continued into the Thunder center’s groin, earning a Flagrant Foul 1 by review, which the NBA elevated to a Flagrant Foul 2. Westbrook said what he said. Green responded with his claim Westbrook kicks and flops. Rebuttal, Mr. Westbrook.
“I don’t have no thoughts. He fouled me at the end of the quarter,” Westbrook said Monday at the Thunder practice facility, referring to the last OKC play of the half, in which Green fouled him far above the 3-point line, prompting the All-Star guard to kick out with his leg. “That was just a dumb play on his part. It wasn’t my fault. And I started the whole superstar what?”
Acting, flopping, trying to be like Reggie Miller.
“I’ve never been fined for one flop since I’ve been playing in the NBA, so I don’t know about no flopping. I don’t know how to flop. But seems like he was the one that was flailing, kicking his legs and stuff out [Sunday]. It wasn’t me,” Westbrook said, claiming Green’s attempt to drag him to the center of the controversy was “normal. That’s normal. But, hey, you’ve got to bring somebody into it. He wants to take the heat off himself.”
Golden State coach Steve Kerr, reiterating his belief a Green suspension was not warranted, also cited Westbrook’s style.
“Adams kind of hit [Green],” Kerr said. “He tried to sell it. He kicked his leg up. To me it’s no different from Westbrook kicking his legs out on the 3s when he feels like there’s contact.”
While the most intriguing kick since Scott Norwood went wide right dominated conversation Monday, the series situation could not be denied. Should the Warriors, down 1-2, rebound and win Game 4 Tuesday, they reclaim the homecourt edge. If the Thunder prevail, it’s a commanding 3-1 lead.
“I think we can beat them with or without him,” Adams said of Green.
“If we play like we did last night, I don’t think any team can beat us,” sub center Enes Kanter said.
But coach Billy Donovan doesn’t want to get too far ahead.
“Every competitive situation and every competitive challenge or game is its own separate identity and its own separate game,” Donovan said. “We’re playing [Tuesday] night and the only thing that matters in my opinion is staying focused on what’s in front of us right now. You can get into these scenarios of looking down the road, and the reality is that has no bearing on anything.”