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“It’s nasty out there, as you can see,” Rockets veteran Fred VanVleet says of Houston’s playoff series versus Golden State. “There’s no love lost. Attention to detail has to be at an all-time high.”
SAN FRANCISCO — Four quarters of physical and tough basketball were not enough for Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. After the Warriors’ 104-93 Game 3 victory, the two began arguing.
“He was just talking,” Houston’s Green said of the interaction. “Steph [Curry] had a good game. That’s the reason they won. It was just talking. He can’t really do much of anything else. Talking is the only way.”
After Green’s superb 38-point performance in a Game 2 win over the Warriors, he struggled throughout Game 3 to get going — with Golden State continuously sending multiple defenders at Green to take the ball out of his hands. He finished with just 9 points on 4-for-11 shooting (36.4%).
“I think it’s something we have seen all year,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said of the defense played against Green. “Teams go after Jalen. Obviously, he had a big game last game, and so we expected that coming in.”
During his postgame press conference, Draymond Green was asked about the heated conversation. Specifically, the four-time NBA champion and perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate was asked whether he commented on and made a gesture about Jalen Green painting his nails — and if the Rockets’ young star took umbrage to it.
“I’m not sure what he took,” Draymond Green said.
The two teams have been bantering throughout all eight matchups this season, and the tension will only increase as the series goes on. Golden State now leads the best-of-seven, first-round showdown by a 2-1 margin, with Game 4 set for Monday night. Houston needs a win in order to tie the series before it returns to Houston for Wednesday’s Game 5.
“I think styles make fights,” said Rockets guard Fred VanVleet. “I think that’s true for basketball, especially, and schemes and the way that we guard… and the way that they run their offense and the way they guard and the way that we run our offense makes it tough on both ends.
“It’s nasty out there, you can see. There’s no love lost; attention to detail has to be at an all-time high. Can’t lose focus. Can’t take plays off. Both teams are trying to find ways to win.”
VanVleet was also involved in the postgame skirmish between Jalen Green and Draymond Green, but when asked about what led up to the heated exchange, he decided to take a diplomatic approach.
“I don’t know,” VanVleet said. “I didn’t see nothin’. I don’t know nothin’. Going to the next.”
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