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“I’d Destroy All These Guys”: Draymond Green Defends NCAA Star In Heated Rant Over College Basketball

Published 02/20/2024, 10:54 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

During the breezy stretch after the NBA All-Star weekend, players are indulging in various activities, from vacations to tending to their business ventures. However, it appears that Draymond Green, in contrast, couldn’t resist tuning in to some basketball action. In today’s matchup between Syracuse University and NC State, Green not only offered a couple of comments summarizing the game but also criticized Syracuse’s coach for perceived inefficiencies.

The game saw Chris Bell make 8 three-pointers in the first half, contributing to his team’s 15-point lead. This led Draymond to chip in. With his initial applause for Chris, Green turned to fiery remarks. Citing, “I personally think if I ever coached college bball I’d destroy all these guys!,” his comment stemmed from his observation of Bell attempting only 2 more three-pointers throughout the remainder of the game.

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Furthermore, Green went on to criticize the coach, pointing out the absence of a simple back-screen action by Bell, which could have created ample opportunities for players around the wing and in lanes. Green argued that the coach not only failed to figure out how to get Bell more shots but also struggled to help the teammates behind Bell’s hot streak.

In the end, NC State successfully narrowed the lead, scoring 43 points in the second half. Nevertheless, Syracuse secured the victory with a 4-point margin. Notably, Bell’s 80% accuracy from beyond the arc was complemented by a 72.7% shooting from the field, ultimately leading his team with a total of 26 points.

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Adrian Autry’s head coaching tenure with Syracuse is fresh. He recently stepped into the role, succeeding the Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, who had held the position for 47 years.

What play is Draymond Green referring to?

In his comments, Green brought up the term “back screen.” It is an offensive play that doesn’t necessarily involve screening the ball handler. The purpose of this action is to catch defenders off guard while creating open spaces for teammates to operate. When aiming to facilitate for a teammate at the wing, typically, a player in the strong-side corner sets a screen behind the wing-side defender’s back.

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The unexpected set-up can catch defenders by surprise, providing teammates with opportunities to exploit open lanes. The ball handler, upon recognizing the cutting player, passes the ball to the open teammate. However, it is important to note that while the play creates open lanes, they are not necessarily empty, prompting the cutting player to read and react to the gameplay situation.

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Written by:

Saahil Dhillan

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Saahil Dhillan is an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports who discovered his basketball passion through the dynamic between Miami's LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Years later, Kobe Bryant reignited his love, transforming him into an extensive contributor who savors the matches, covers games live, analyzes post-game pressers, and reports on injuries. With his stories, he aims at making readers feel the intense drama unfolding on the court every day.
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Edited by:

Sameen Nawathe