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Draymond Green's Interaction With Rockets After Warriors Game 7 Captures Attention

While Buddy Hield was the star of the game in the box score, the star of the narrative around the Warriors' difficult Game 7 win over the Rockets on Sunday was big man Draymond Green.

Hield poured in 33 points in the 103-89 drubbing of Houston, probably the biggest factor in getting the Warriors through to the second round of the playoffs and a date with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

But Green's pouting behavior after the Warriors' Game 6 loss to Houston was one of the big storylines, notably because he owned up to it in a team meeting and subsequently changed his approach in time to lead his team in Game 7.

It seems a long time ago, indeed, that the focus was more on Green's on-court actions, with Rockets star Dillon Brooks calling Green a "dirty player" way back after Game 2. As much bad blood as might have been built up between Green (who finished with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists, his best all-around game of the playoffs) and the Rockets, Anthony Slater of The Athletic gave a glimpse into a different angle on the relationship.

Yes, Green was doling out hugs to his foes.

"Draymond Green greeting Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, Ime Udoka, Amen Thompson and Steven Adams after the series. Pretty friendly postgame scene in Houston," Slater wrote on Twitter/X.

Coach Steve Kerr said that Green helped reverse the momentum of the series, which saw Houston win Games 5 and 6 after the Warriors grabbed a 3-1 lead, by taking ownership of his inability to control his emotions in the losses. And he changed that in Game 7.

"He's our leader,” Kerr said. “When he’s right, like he was tonight, he is an incredible player to watch. The defense, just kind of owning the court on that side of things, and then just being patient and not turning it over and being in the right spot offensively.”

The conference semifinals vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves will tip off at Target Center on Tuesday.

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