“Far too many time he has been on the wrong end, can’t continuously do this” Shannon Sharpe agrees with Draymond Green’s ejection in Game 1 vs Memphis Grizzlies
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Draymond Green
Draymond Green’s ejection in Game 1 vs the Memphis Grizzlies has been the talk of the day. While some found the call ‘absurd and inconsistent’, Shannon Sharpe felt the call was well deserved. But how much of his opinion is really valid? And what does Draymond have to say on this?
Warriors survive despite Draymond Green’s ejection
The Game 1 of the Western Conference semi-finals was of much anticipation. It was going to give fans an insight of what the series has in store for us. On one hand we have an upcoming Memphis Grizzlies led by the reigning ‘Most Improved Player’ Ja Morant himself. On the other hand, we have Golden State Warriors, one of the most elite team in the league, led by the 3-pointer King, Stephen Curry.
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The game saw leads being exchanged throughout the game and came down to the wire. Despite the thriller that the game had, major discussions revolved around an another topic. Draymond Green’s ejection, late in the 1st half, has taken the spotlight after the game.
Draymond Green was ejected with a flagrant 2 foul, that he commited on Brandon Clarke. The topic has been of much discussion as most NBA experts feel that the foul committed was not more than flagrant 1. Some even went to comment,’Back in our day that would be just 2 free throws’. The league has been facing a lot of heat from fans for being ‘too soft’ and ‘not allowing plays to happen’. Those calls amplified today after the ejection. Many went on to blame the referees too, calling them ‘rigged’ and ‘soft’.
Shannon Sharpe’s take on the incident is far different. On ‘Undisputed’ show he went to say that the foul call was well deserved for Draymond. He later even despised the reaction that Draymond had to the call. Draymond jumping up and down, taunting the fans, seemed unnecessary to Sharpe. ‘He wound up, hit him in the face and then he grabbed him by his jersey and snatched him out of the air. That is a very dangerous play’.
Draymond Green has been ejected multiple times before. Though he is an elite defender, who despite being small guards bigs like bigs, has built a reputation for himself with the ejections, fights and fouls over the years. The reputation that put Draymond in the wrong spot in the game.
‘Draymond Green has lost the benefit of the doubt as he has been on the wrong end far too many times’, said Sharpe. NBA analysts, players and former players all agreed to this. Draymond Green’s reputation had a big part to play in ruling.
But one aspect that many forget in the discussion is that, rules remain the same for everyone. Be it the most aggressive player in the league or the youngest player or the sweetest player, a foul call shall remain constant with all. Stephen Adams mentioned that, had there been Stephen Curry or Klay in the play the call would not have had Flagrant 2 anywhere near the discussion.
Draymond in his podcast, casted light to his side of the story. He explained that, his move was a defensive move. He intended to grab the ball and ‘prevent a bucket and one’. But he mistakenly ended up grabbing the jersey. He agrees that he pulled Brandon Clarke down but he also tried to hold him so that the young player does not injure himself by crashing to the floor. A move, most other than Sharpe and referees understood as an attempt to throw Brandon Clarke down. Draymond accepted that he anticipated a flagrant foul call but he did not expect an ejection and flagrant 2.
To explain the absurd Draymon’s victory lap after the ejection, Green went on to say that the fans had started chanting ‘kick him out’ while the officials were reviewing the call. Draymond felt that he should taunt the crowd by dancing to those chants.
No matter how absurd the ‘taunt’ might have been, it surely is one for us to remember.
The Warriors might have given a sweet ending to a game that saw them loose a key player in the first half, but one aspect of the game still on the barbecue of discussion. And that would be officiating. Sharpe in his analysis and view point is not entirely wrong. Draymond Green’s play can surely be perceived as a dangerous play, but it really is not. Nor is the argument that Draymond deserves the call for his reputation. That only means that the league should be inconsistent with the players on the court and have a different rule book for every player.
It is high time that the league starts to reconsider it’s officiating process. Inconsistency does no player or league good.
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