If there’s one person who doesn’t have to soften words with Draymond Green, it’s the former college basketball coach.
Michigan State’s Tom Izu coached Greene for four years in college and knows the Warriors striker well.
So when Green lets his emotions get over him, As he did in game 2 From the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, he can expect to hear from coach Izu, who sent him after the game some constructive feedback.
“The last game, the second game, I spent the whole game messing around, frustrated, arguing with the referees…but the coach [Tom] In fact, Izu texted me after the last match and said it in a very sweet way, “Green said on the last episode of”Draymond Green ShowAudio recording.
Then Greene read the text messages between him and the Michigan coach aloud.
“He said: ‘Today is shaky but you got the job done. In my humble opinion, all of you have fallen for the position, you have to realize that you are the leader and many followers. However, I hit a big 3-point shot and a few big stops were key. They follow your lead, but you are still 2-0 up. good luck brother“.
“I knew exactly what he was saying, and he didn’t need to say much more. And I answered him, and I said”I coach you 1000 percent right, I let my feelings go overboard and the team followed suit. I should be better, but it sure is good to win“.”
By the time Izzo texted him, Green was already aware of how his behavior would look in Game 2 and moving forward, he knew it had to be better.
“And as I said, I knew right away exactly what he was saying, I knew I needed to be better in this department and not let that affect my game negatively,” Green added. “And I really think it negatively affected my game in Game 2, which affected us as a team negatively in the end. We were able to win the match. When you can learn from your mistakes to win, take that. And keep moving forward, but I knew I had to be better. In this department to be involved in this game and I think I did a much better job there.”
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Ezo, along with Warriors coach Steve Kerr and longtime teammates Steve Curry, Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala, are certainly free to treat Green as they please. Green is always open to hearing constructive feedback, but when it comes from those he trusts and loves the most, it carries a lot of weight.
Cooler Head reigned in Game 3 Sunday night at the American Airlines Center with The Warriors beat the Mavericks 109-100 And they now find themselves just one win away from advancing to their sixth NBA Finals in the past eight seasons.
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