The Eastern Conference Finals looked like it will be another sweep, like the one in the West, where Nikola Jokic and Co. swept LeBron James‘ Lakers. However, Jayson Tatum and the C’s have come roaring back into the series with 2-straight victories after being down 0-3. Draymond Green, who helped the Warriors win the NBA Finals against the Celtics last year, is rooting for them for a selfish reason.
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Jimmy Butler has been fabulous this season, probably the best player of the Playoffs besides The Joker. However, his upcoming Game 6 in Miami will have a lot of onus for that narrative to go further. If the Celtics upset the Heat on the road in game 6, it will be almost impossible for Butler to win game 7 at the TD Garden. If the C’s do somehow make it happen, it will be the first time in history a team will come back from a 3-0 deficit. The Lakers were the last to join 149 other teams in that shocking 150-0 record. But why is Green wishing for that to happen?
Draymond Green has a ‘selfish reason’ to root for the Celtics
The ECF might be standing at 3-2 in favor of the Heat right now, but somehow it feels like both teams have a 50-50 chance of making it to the Finals. Maybe it’s the way, the Celtics have opened up Jimmy’s side like no other team has in this post-season.
However, Draymond Green has his own personal reason for supporting his opponents from the 2022 Finals. The Warriors forward is looking to wash the 3-1 stain that LeBron James-led Cavaliers gave the Warriors in the 2016 Finals.
“First team to come back from 3-0? We would love to see it, wouldn’t we?” Asked Draymond on the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show. “Maybe I wouldn’t have to hear about 3-1 anymore. You can throw it in the dirt. It would be a much better story, for me personally (smiles).”
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Obviously, it will be an opportunity for Green to get rid of some Bron stans who always make life difficult for him and the Warriors since their defeat in the 2016 Finals from a commanding position.
But who is Draymond actually rooting for?
Since the Dubs’ elimination in these Playoffs, Green was rooting for the Lakers to win it all, probably because of his friendship with James. But since that turned out the other way, he has not revealed who is rooting for on a serious note.
Meanwhile, if the Celtics do force Game 7 and win that as well, and somehow go on to beat the Nuggets for the title, the respect for the Warriors for winning the 2022 championship will even grow stronger.
That should be another reason for Green and the Warriors to root for them. As far as Game 6 in Miami goes, it might well be the toughest, and the most important game both the Celtics and the Heat will play this post-season.
