Green To Watch Game 5 At Coliseum, Invited To Throw Out First Pitch
OAKLAND, Calif. (CBS SF/AP) -- Suspended Warriors star Draymond Green is expected to watch Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night in a baseball suite next door to Oracle Arena at the Oakland Coliseum and was reportedly even invited by the Athletics to throw out the first pitch.
The Warriors, however, say Green's plans had already changed several times Monday morning.
According to TMZ Sports, the Athletics even invited Green to throw out the first pitch at the game against the Texas Rangers. The suspended Warriors player reportedly declined, telling the A's he wanted to keep a low profile at the Coliseum.
The NBA announced Green's suspension from his scuffle with Cleveland's LeBron James late Sunday morning.
The defending champions lead James and the Cavaliers 3-1 and are trying to close out a second straight championship at home.
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Green may enter Oracle Arena after the game to either celebrate with teammates or prepare for a trip to Ohio for Game 6. Hallways connect the side-by-side venues, allowing Green to stay close by.
The NBA suspension rules additionally mean that Green must be out of Oracle Arena two hours before the game starts and that he will lose his game check.
There was some speculation that Green might simply pay the imposed fine and attend the game, though the fine would likely be significantly more than the standard $2,000 fine players are required to pay if they attend the game they have been suspended from playing in.
Smiling and being playful, Green was his upbeat, high-energy self — or at least appeared so — during a shootaround Monday morning at the team's downtown practice facility. He pulled off a set of pushups between taking shots, let out a loud "Ahhhhh!" for all to hear and animatedly pointed his right arm in the direction of center Andrew Bogut before disappearing as the Warriors wrapped up their day-of-game preparations.
While coach Steve Kerr has advised all of his players to stay ready because there might be some varying lineups and rotations, guard Shaun Livingston said Green hadn't addressed the team. There's a lot of production to make up for without Green's postseason 15.3 points, team-high 9.6 rebounds and six assists — not to mention his defense.
"It's tough. He's in a different position now," Livingston said. "Usually he's able to be vocal and then go out and then go out and set the example. Now with him not playing, it's kind of speaking from a different position. Steve has been great kind of feeding us what we need. I don't think we should need any extra motivation tonight."
"It's another test," said Livingston said of playing without emotional leader Green. "We've went through a lot of tests this year. It's kind of the ultimate being in the position that we're in, so it's a great opportunity for a lot of guys and for our team and coaches. ... It's a cohesion thing throughout the whole team. We rely on our chemistry, we rely on each other, we play for each other. One guy is not just going to make up what Draymond brings to the table. It's all the little things he does that wins championships."
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