The Cleveland Cavaliers had a much easier time against the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 with Draymond Green sitting out, so it comes as no surprise that they were hoping the situation would be the same for Game 6.
ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on his podcast this week that the Cavs pushed to have Green suspended for Game 5 and Game 6 after he hit LeBron James in the groin during Game 4.
“The Cavs wanted him suspended for two games,” Lowe said. “I can tell you that. They wanted it to be a flagrant 2 and to have him suspended for Game 5 and Game 6.”
As Dan Feldman of Pro Basketball Talk notes, the Cavs probably lobbied the league to give Green a two-game ban to make sure he was assessed another Flagrant 1 and suspended for Game 5. With Cleveland pushing for significant disciplinary action, the NBA may have been more inclined to punish Green in some way.
Green says he hit LeBron in the groin (video here) because he felt disrespected that James stepped over him. Had it been a different player, there might have been Flagrant 1 or suspension. But given how many times one of Green’s limbs has found its way into an opponent’s crotch this postseason, the NBA basically had no choice.
