Draymond Green has always had a difficult time avoiding technical fouls, and the latest one he received has him one away from triggering an automatic one-game suspension. The Golden State Warriors are hoping the league will change that.
Green and Houston Rockets center Nene were both called for technical fouls when they got into a minor scuffle during the second half of Game 2 Tuesday night. Referee Ed Malloy called the techs instantly, and it did not seem like they were warranted.
Ed Malloy single finger Cleopatra Double T! pic.twitter.com/tfBZCHsLbI
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 1, 2019
The latest technical for Green gives him four already during the postseason, and picking up a fifth would result in an automatic one-game suspension. After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the team plans to ask the NBA to rescind the latest tech.
“Every time there’s an altercation, it’s a double technical. If you’re playing in the playoffs for a few rounds, those add up,” Kerr said, via Mark Medina of the San Jose Mercury News. “If the way to handle it is to call a double technical, I think the league needs to consider that.”
There is still a long way to go in the playoffs, so having that technical rescinded would make a big difference for Green and Golden State. It probably should be taken away, as Green and Nene looked like they were just talking some trash in a heated game.
We have certainly seen some instances this season where Green clearly deserves a technical foul, so it’s no surprise he rarely gets the benefit of the doubt. He was suspended for a game in the NBA Finals in 2016 because he picked up five techs in the playoffs, and that was a big reason why the Warriors lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The NBA could choose to not rescind his latest technical just to send a message, but it didn’t really seem warranted for either player.
