Draymond Green admitted after the Golden State Warriors’ 140–88 loss against the Boston Celtics that the team’s defensive gameplan was implemented “like 15 minutes” before tipoff.
It’s safe to say that their strategy—which appeared to be to simply let Jaylen Brown take uncontested shots—backfired massively, during what was ultimately a 52-point blowout.
Brown led the game in scoring, dropping a highly-efficient 29 points in just 22 minutes while shooting 11-of-19 from the field, including 5-of-10 from three-point range. He put up 19 points in the first quarter alone.
WATCH: Celtics up big after the 1st quarter and Jaylen Brown dropped 19 points 💪 pic.twitter.com/cNbPkrTVi2
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 3, 2024
After scarcely finding himself with a defender in his vicinity throughout the game, Brown said postgame that he felt the Warriors’ strategy was “disrespectful.”
“Thought it was disrespectful, but we took advantage of it,” said Brown after the game, via Jared Weiss of The Athletic.
Draymond Green said they got the coverage they wanted on Jaylen Brown, but he just hit the shots.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) March 3, 2024
Brown: “Thought it was disrespectful, but we took advantage of it.” https://t.co/50T5S4mkQz
Brown trolled Steve Kerr and Golden State on X after the game, too, joking that he was not opposed to their strategic adjustment.
More teams should take this strategy https://t.co/P8fDaSBZSy
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) March 4, 2024
Speaking on the defensive gameplan, Green said it was fun to experiment with, but admitted the strategy didn’t work out.
“I don’t think we really played a full defensive strategy. We implemented our strategy like 15 minutes before we left the locker room,” said Green via Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
“It ain’t work. Oh well, we move on. I thought it was fun to try. I was actually all for it,” said Green, who logged just 14 minutes in the lopsided defeat.
Draymond Green said the Warriors implemented the strategy to sag off Jaylen Brown “like 15 minutes before we left the locker room.”
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 3, 2024
“I thought it was fun to try. I was actually all for it.”
“It didn’t work. Oh well. We move on.” pic.twitter.com/SVuwRkCGCH
Sunday marked the last time the two teams will meet during the 2023-24 regular season, so any chance at revenge the Warriors might be seeking will need to wait until next year, barring a surprise repeat of their 2022 NBA Finals matchup.
