“The agenda trying to make me look like an angry Black man is crazy. I’m sick of it. It’s ridiculous.” After receiving his fifth technical foul of these playoffs in Game 2, a frustrated Draymond Green accused the NBA of having an alleged agenda to tarnish his reputation. Only two technical fouls shy of a one-game suspension, Dub Nation was hoping for him to keep his emotions in check in tonight’s crucial Wolves clash. With Stephen Curry out, the Warriors had zero margin of error. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop Draymond from resorting to his old habits and costing his team. But was it really his fault?

While the Warriors fought hard to stay in the game, Draymond got into early foul trouble. Then, two consecutive plays led to his unfortunate exit. It happened midway through the fourth quarter. During Jonathan Kuminga’s aggressive drive to the basket, Green tugged on Julius Randle’s jersey. Initially, the officials called a foul on Randle for his physical contest with Kuminga. But upon review, they noticed Draymond’s tug and penalized him with a foul instead.

Now on five fouls, Green needed to be extremely cautious for the rest of the game, because another one and he would be tossed. However, in the very next play, he was called for another personal foul. This time for his contest on Jaden McDaniels’ dunk attempt. Just like that, Green’s night was over. Clearly, nothing went his way, as he finished with 2 points and two rebounds. With their defensive anchor gone, the Warriors couldn’t keep up with the Wolves’ offense and ended up losing by five points.

While many blamed Draymond for the loss, multiple Warriors’ members questioned the officiating that led to his early exit. “We felt pretty strongly that the one on the I think it was his fourth, they called a block. It looked like Randle went through his chest. So, we felt pretty good about challenging it plus it was his fourth, but obviously we didn’t get the call.” Steve Kerr said, addressing one of Draymond’s six personal fouls. He continued, “The sixth one was tough one. That didn’t feel great looking at the replay, but it is what it is.”

Even Buddy Hield shared a similar sentiment on Green’s misfortune, “Yeah man, that’s a tough call. I feel like everything didn’t go our way tonight that we thought would go our way… Nothing went his way today. Picking up a foul against McDaniels and hand’s a part of the ball. So, but we didn’t get calls where we were supposed to get.” It was clear that both Hield and Kerr were not pleased with the fouls called on Draymond. And Buddy was even left questioning some of the league rules.

Buddy Hield confused about NBA rules as Jimmy Butler highlights Draymond Green’s impact with unique comparison

Well, most of Draymond’s fouls tonight were controversial. Especially his fourth one where Randle ran into his chest, causing Green to fall backwards. Kerr even challenged the call, hoping that it would be overturned to an offensive foul on the Wolves star.

But the ruling on the floor stood. Sure enough, Buddy was not pleased with the call and addressed it during the postgame presser, “Offensive foul, I mean like I just don’t understand the rules you know. Draymond is All-World defensive player and if a guy put his forearm in his chest… it went automatic. They don’t take that long. It felt like they were like debating it too long on the challenge and review and it was going over time, just trying to figure out what’s the right call. I just know that everything just didn’t go our way today.”

Yes, Hield seemed disgruntled by the rules and the time officials took to make their decision. Despite the locker room’s complain, Green eventually ended up getting fouled out.

And the Warriors struggled without him. Following the heartbreaking loss, Jimmy Butler revealed how Green’s departure affected their morale, “I mean obviously, he’s one of the top defenders in the world, for sure the best defender on this squad. When he’s out, it’s just different. Got nobody to back there that’s quarterback in the way he does it that can switch everything, that can get every loose ball and that can rebound.”

Although it is not always evident from his stats, Green has been the Warriors’ defensive anchor for over a decade. Without him, they are left with a massive void on both ends. That’s exactly what happened tonight, and the Wolves took advantage. Do you think Draymond deserved to get fouled out or was it just bad officiating?